Close encounters with Danmasani
My first close encounter with late Alh. (Dr.) Maitama Sule was in 1961 (I was only 10 years then and he was probably 30). I was returning from school one afternoon when I saw my age mates playing football at an open fiel near the former NA Works Department along the road to the Emir’s […]
My first close encounter with late Alh. (Dr.) Maitama Sule was in 1961 (I was only 10 years then and he was probably 30). I was returning from school one afternoon when I saw my age mates playing football at an open fiel near the former NA Works Department along the road to the Emir’s palace in Kano. I immediately dropped my bag and joine them. Unknown to me, Maitama Sule was watching me from a distance near the City Library where he was sitting with his friends. H shouted at me, rebuked me and instructed me to go home first before coming back to play (he didn’t know me from Adam). From that day I imbibed the habit of going home straight after closing from school.
The second encounter was around 1997/98 when I was making a presentation to the Board of Directors of the defunct Tropical Commercial Bank when he was then a board member. At the end of my presentation the board was unhappy about my criticism on their conduct of the bank. They were about to descend on me when Maitama Sule cautioned them to either take my criticism in good faith or ignore them at the detriment of the bank. His intervention ended the presentation on a friendly note. This made me see a gentleman and a peace maker who was ready to shiel those at a disadvantaged position.
The third lesson was around year 2000 at the Danmasani’s guest house along Unity Road/Kantin Kwari, Kano. I went along with a Bazazzage friend (apologies to Alh. Falalu Bello). The Baazage friend who is also now late had asked me to accompany him to the Danmasani’s residence to enable him market some royal traditional clothes to him. We were ushered to the Danmasani’s sitting room to wait for him. On coming into the room he started opening the windows of the sitting room. As a mark of respect we started assisting him in opening the windows but he immediately stopped us for the reasons that we might break his windows since we didn’t know his style. And who would assist him do same when we were not around, he queried!
Alh. Ambassador Maitama Sule was a rare gem. We lost him at a time we needed him most. However he was a gift from Allah (SWT) who has now taken him away and we thank Him for his life. May ALLAH (SWT) bless his soul, Ameen.
S.M. Gwarzo, Kano 08023144911