A Tribute to Dr. Haruna Muhammad Salihi
Tuesday, 19th June, 2012 was a day a friend called from Gombe in the dead of the night to pass on the terrible news of the dead of a pillar in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano and to Kano politics. Like many, I am still trying to absorb the awful news. We […]
Tuesday, 19th June, 2012 was a day a friend called from Gombe in the dead of the night to pass on the terrible news of the dead of a pillar in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano and to Kano politics. Like many, I am still trying to absorb the awful news. We won’t stop mourning him anytime soon, but after our tears have dried up, can we start planning something in his name in form of a book? Foundation? Structure? Or something else.
The news of the death of Salihi killed my sleep for the rest of the night. He was an advocate for democracy and democratic principles practically and in the four walls of the classroom. There is hardly an intellectual political move in the Fourth Republic Kano that took place without Salihi inimitable presence and support. A real spokesman for democratic ideals per excellence, his ideas were dynamic and inspiring. Once you come close to him you will definitely respect him, to know him was to love him, to work with him was to admire him. He provided guidance and encouragement for the young to excel in academics.
To us, his students, we celebrate the life of a notable political figure, an academics, a conservative with huge radical underpinnings whose efforts in struggling to emancipate his people through scholarship and communal efforts was legendary. Truly he was a man of the people who interacted directly with all persons from different classes, background, high or low, young and old.
His life was one dedicated to service and advancement of human cause. His last words to me was on scholarship, that when he comes back from medical treatment in India he will make his contribution to the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil proposed book on Issues on Contemporary Kano available, the proposal he painstakingly added value to.
The deceased has passions and dedications to anything that he believed in. A good Muslim by all accounts, his zeal and greater commitments were towards a better society and the drive to hold governments responsive and responsible for the attainment of good governance and representative democracy. He has contributed to the development of a number of structures that increased the quality of human life and he was not left out when it comes to enhancing women Islamic education and loaning out books to all.
Associate Professor Haruna Muhammad Salihi’s life was one lived in full, speaking the truth to power, and the vibrant merging of intellectualism with activism. Born to humble parents five decades ago at Kankarofi quarters in the ancient city of Kano, Nigeria. He started his education in a Koranic school later went to prestigious Rumfa College, Kano and thereafter proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he read Political Science. As a student of high level distinction he obtained MSc and PhD Political Science from Bayero University, Kano where he taught International Administration, Islamic Political Thought as his area of interest for almost three decades. A hallmark of his scholarship is the facile ability to articulate and present very complex and complicated issues in a simple and accessible manner that any ordinary lay person, including the half literate, could understand and appreciate. Highly humble, well disciplined and pious Salihi represented Kano state as delegate to 2005 Nigerian Constitutional Conference; he was a founding member and executive to Bayero University, Kano Muslim Forum and Hudaibiyya Foundation, Kano; Member, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil Governing Council and Member, Kano State Societal Reorientation Board (Adaidaita Sahu).
It is overwhelming to hear the outpouring of grief that has been coming from relatives, friends, colleagues and students since the passing away of Dr. Salihi. The great loss is to scholarship, Kano, Nigeria and Africa. We are still struggling to come to terms with it.
His death is like losing a multitude of five star generals in one battle, and a lot more scholars and activists in just a day. There are few of our generation like him. Truly he was a nice person, with a finer mission and the finest vision for Africa. He sincerely and desperately wanted solutions to our myriad problems. He departed and left behind Kano as the most populous in commercial motorcyclist in the world, the most populous in divorced women in sub-Saharan Africa, the most populous in drug addicts in Nigeria. He left Nigeria, celebrated as one of the most corrupt country in the world, with many manufacturing industries closed and ruined infrastructures. His demise at this critical moment in our chequered history is the fall of a colossus whose passions tinged with humane attributes will continue to be remembered.
Finally, Malam as difficult as it is to accept that you are gone with all your wonderful characteristics; you are only been recalled by He who made us and owns us all. All that is left is to pray for you, I pray for the repose of your soul and pray that Allah (SWT) whom you worshipped will grant you the benefit of Aljannah Firdaus. This, He has promised all those who did His will. Thus, your death is one of the hardest news to accept and live with it, I believe the legacy you left under each one of us will live forever and remained deep in our heart and mind.
Truly Dr. Haruna Muhammad Salihi had a humble entry, and triumphant exit.
Murtala Muhammad is of Kano University Science and Technology, Wudil [email protected]