‘At 100, I can’t stop chewing sugarcane’
The presence of a centenarian among the 12 personalities honoured at the 6th Abdullahi Fodio Merit Award added colour to the event, which was conceived in honour of late Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio, the brother of the legendary Islamic reformer and Jihadist, Sheikh Usman bin Fodio. The award was started in 1996 by the Gwandu Emirate […]
The presence of a centenarian among the 12 personalities honoured at the 6th Abdullahi Fodio Merit Award added colour to the event, which was conceived in honour of late Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio, the brother of the legendary Islamic reformer and Jihadist, Sheikh Usman bin Fodio. The award was started in 1996 by the Gwandu Emirate Development Association (GEDA) to immortalise and promote the good works and the legacy left behind by Sheikh Abdullahi.
The master of ceremony at the event, Mainassara Illoh, a retired football commentator, called the recipients one after the other to the podium for their award. He started with the Speaker of House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who happened to be the youngest among the awardees, which included Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Saidu Usman Dakingari, Justice Salihu Modibbo Belgore, former National Security Adviser General Muhammad Aliyu Gusau and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega.
The master of ceremony, after calling Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello, the coordinator, counter-terrorism under the office of the National Security Adviser for his award, announced that the next awardee was born in 1912 and that, this year, he has spent 100 years on earth. Suddenly the attention of the audience turned in the direction of centenarian Alhaji Muhammadu Modi. Alhaji Modi, who is the Magajin Garin Gwandu, stood up from where he was sitting in the hall, walked to podium briskly without the help of any guide. While his citation was being read, the centenarian remained standing until he was given the award before returning to his seat, also unaided. A thunderous ovation accompanied the old man’s movement back to his seat.
According to the citation, Modi started his early working career as a Shariah Court judge. He was, therefore, recognised with an honour for his immense contribution to the development of Shariah in the state and also his role as a onetime sanitation officer.
The centenarian also held the position of Agriculture Extension Worker and at the same time he was in charge of the historical/library section of the Gwandu Emirate. Before his elevation to Magajin Garin Gwandu, Alhaji Modi has held many traditional positions including Marafan Gwandu.
Two days after the event, our correspondent traced the centenarian to his Birnin Kebbi residence at Kofar Kola with the help of Alhaji Atiku Bala, a veteran local government administrator in Kebbi State. Weekly Trust observed that few minutes after one of his grandsons informed the centenarian of our presence, Alhaji Modi arrived the sitting room wearing a white traditional babbar riga, with a white turban.
The centenarian said “I’m over 100 years old, because I was alive before the former Emir of Gwandu, Malam Basharu, was appointed. I have so far seen six emirs on the Gwandu throne. Emir Shehu spent 20 years on the throne; Emir Yahaya spent 16; Emir Haruna spent 42; Emir Jokolo spent 10; and I also know when the present Emir of Gwandu, retired Major General Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar, was appointed.”
On the secret of his longevity, he said, “there is no any secret attached to it. It is the will of Allah. I eat all sorts of food, meat and up till now, I still chew sugarcane. I don’t have any ailment including diabetes. When I was growing up, I was one of the local hunters here in Gwandu, so I eat a lot of birds, guinea fowls and chickens.” Alhaji Modi is still enjoying the services of his 30 teeth, after losing only two.
Asked whether he can read, the centenarian chose to read aloud a programme of event to answer the question. He told Weekly Trust that it is part of his daily routine to read the Holy Qur’an every morning, adding that this has been the main source of his strength. He said he has never used glasses to read.
On how long he can walk unguided, he said, “come let us try it. I can walk from here in Birnin Kebbi to Kalgo (a neighbouring local government area to the state capital).
Alhaji Modi started his elementary school in 1919 and completed it in 1922. Afterwards, he enrolled into the Middle School where he studied Hausa and English. “At the elementary school, we were about 50 but today, I’m the only person remaining. I thank Allah for this. My grandfather Halilu Modibbo died at the age of 133, but my dad died at over 70,” he added.
The centenarian has seven children, over 70 grandchildren and 30 great grand children. Weekly Trust observed that the centenarian still possess sharp memory as he could still remember his childhood, his school mates, teachers and other memorable things in his life. Throughout the chat, the centenarian was not missing his points.
The solution to the challenges facing the country, according to the centenarian, was sincerity and justice. He stressed the need for leaders and the masses to be sincere and always have the fear of Allah in whatever they do.
At the occasion, discussion of the health status and the apparent fitness of the centenarian dominated the gathering.
Low and high personalities who graced the occasion were seen discussing him.
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State, who chaired the occasion, urged Nigerian media to always recognise Nigerians who excelled in their chosen careers and that they should desist from portraying Nigeria and Nigerians in bad light.
According to him, though Nigeria is facing some challenges, the country is not as bad as local and international media portray it.
“The media must learn and cultivate the habit of promoting good things and credible leaders in the country, because Nigeria is not the worst country in the world. They should not only focus attention on the bad side. We must promote our country and people; nobody will do it for us,” he said.
After receiving his award, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal thanked the Gwandu Emirate for the gesture and assured that, “I will continue to do the things you saw in me before you bestowed the prestigious and credible award on me.”
Reiterating his commitment to continue to push for the development of the country, Tambuwal said the House of Representatives under his leadership would continue to work for peace and development of the country.
“All of us holding leadership positions in the country must be fair, just and continue to work hard to better the lots of the masses. On our part in the House (of Representatives), we will not relent in working for peace and development of the country,” he said.
Emir of Gwandu, Muhammed Ilyasu Bashar, said all the recipients of the merit awards were selected based on merit and urged them to always be good ambassadors of the emirate.
The emir, who is the Chairman Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, while pledging to continue to promote peaceful co-existence among all in the state, urged prominent Nigerians to be assisting the less privileged, especially in the area of education.
Meanwhile, over 123 million Naira was realised at the launch of the 500 million Naira Gwandu Emirate Educational Development Fund, which was part of the event. The emir assured that all the money realised would be judiciously utilised for the development of education in the emirate.