Everyday is a privilege

Initially, I planned to write a tribute on Suleiman this week; and another on Waziri-Agaie next week. That would have made tributes to run on this column for three consecutive weeks; a trend I consider morbid enough to drive some readers away from this page because if there is any subject matter many people hate […]

Initially, I planned to write a tribute on Suleiman this week; and another on Waziri-Agaie next week. That would have made tributes to run on this column for three consecutive weeks; a trend I consider morbid enough to drive some readers away from this page because if there is any subject matter many people hate to discuss, read or think about; it is death. I therefore decided to put the two tributes together today, so that they do not extend beyond this week.
Although sudden demise is one strange manner by which death often confronts us, Suleiman’s unanticipated exit is a strong reminder that every day is a privilege. Few moments before his death, the receptionist said he prepared tea for Suleiman in his office after which he drove out in his car; a trip that never brought him back to office. He slumped while locking his car door and died.
Every day in our life is indeed a privilege because no one no matter the age, status, knowledge, power or prestige knows when, where and how death shall approach him. The fact that sound health is never a barrier to death as much as ill-health is not a license to death makes it awful.  If it is the natural characteristic of death to overtake man when he least expects, one then wonders at what makes some of us so ambitious in life as to leave no time to prepare for the inevitable but swift end of life.
Usually, Suleiman sat to my immediate left at the weekly meeting. He would, after the meeting, alert me of the time for prayer; and together we always went to the mosque to pray. I will be missing Suleiman for the SMS he sends to me every Friday morning which in most cases was either a verse of the holy Qur’an or hadith of the Prophet (SAW). He was a gentle, hardworking, pious and dedicated Muslim whose cheerfulness never for once allowed anger to be noticed in his words or actions. May Allah (SWT) grant Suleiman eternal forgiveness and mercy; making al-Jannah his final abode, amin.
Remembering Alhaji Ndagi Mamudu (Waziri-Agaie)
I was still recovering from the shock that enveloped me after Suleiman’s sudden exit when the news of the death of Waziri-Agaie, Alhaji Ndagi Mamudu reached me through an SMS. Indeed, the past seven days for some people have been a week of mourning.
Alhaji Ndagi Mamudu was an Islamic scholar in his own right even though little of that is known by many of those he came in to contact with during his career both as a civil servant and a politician. In July 1999, I went to his residence to give him an invitation to attend the public presentation of my second book scheduled to hold at the National Mosque, Abuja. He was to serve as the royal father at the occasion in his capacity then as the Acting Chairman of Agaie Emirate Council. After glancing through some pages of the book to be launched, he engaged me in an intellectual discussion during which he quoted freely in Arabic and off-head from al-Askar (otherwise called Maliki Law) as if it were before him; one of the authoritative books on jurisprudence in this part of the Muslim world.
In order to loosen up the surprise on my face, he explained to me how he studied all the basic books of Islamic theology and jurisprudence under his father, Alkali Muhammadu, after whom their family house is named -Emi Likali- meaning “Alkali House”; the first to be so-called in the town. His grandfather, too, Abba Habibu, was one of the scholars that came along with the Fulani founder of Agaie Malam Muhammadu Babba in the early 19th century. Alhaji Ndagi Mamudu’s scholarship did not therefore occur by chance.
As an elder statesman and leader, Waziri-Agaie would always encourage people to be patient over all matters and under all circumstances. His patriotism came to fore when, against the wish of his immediate family members, he returned to settle in Agaie, his hometown, after retiring from public service. Even after serving as a minister for water resources and later for police affairs, he retired from active politics to live the rest of his life in Agaie; without having to run after contracts north and south of Nigeria. He would have chosen to live in Kaduna or elsewhere if he wanted.
Alhaji Mamudu was a personality with respect for time. He arrived at Abuja venue of my book presentation at 9am; an hour ahead of the time scheduled for the event. Earlier in 1997, he got to FUT Minna, venue of the public presentation of my first book about 2 hours ahead of the scheduled time. Indeed, you don’t expect otherwise from a contemporary of Sardaunan-Sakkwato.
He was a devout Muslim who after his early morning (Subhi) prayer, recited the holy Qur’an as a matter of routine from which no human activity distracted him. He also had time after reciting the Qur’an for other regular supplications. On Fridays, he usually followed up this routine with the giving of alms to the poor and the needy. When sometimes those around him raised concern over his nature of generosity, he would tell them he has lived a fulfilled life and therefore had nothing else to seek in life again except the hereafter. May Allah (SWT) grant him eternal mercy and bliss; making al-Jannah his final destination, amin.