Hon. Justice Ustaz Yoonus Abdullah; A peacemaker goes home

My uncle is actually my grand uncle, younger brother to my maternal grandmother and one of the closest family members to my mum. My mum spoke about him as if he were the only relation she had on her mother’s side and he spoke about her in like manner. When she died two years ago, […]

My uncle is actually my grand uncle, younger brother to my maternal grandmother and one of the closest family members to my mum. My mum spoke about him as if he were the only relation she had on her mother’s side and he spoke about her in like manner. When she died two years ago, he was gutted and would not believe that anything had happened to his sister. He was already ailing at the time and we worried about him. As I watched him two months ago, in his bedroom, his eyes twinkling, my heart was full of joy. I had been away. I was as proud of him as he was of me and the love between us was palpable I left after an hour of sitting on his bed, chatting with him and amusing him. It was the last time I would see my dearest Uncle.

As a young student at Queen Amina college, Kaduna, Uncle Yunusa’s  home at Sheikh Sabas secondary school, Kaduna where he was vice principal was our home of choice for mid- term breaks . Both his wives the late Aunty Saadatu and Aunty Sefi would outdo themselves feeding me and my sister, Architect Eucharia Alozie. They were beautiful memories and my uncle was always gentle and kind, often asking us up to three times an hour if we were comfortable. He was famous for reciting Quranic verses and his voice would be at once arresting and melodious. He sometimes delivered verses in song form. He presented Juma’a talk on Radio Nigeria Kaduna in his flawless voice. I am grateful to have picked his voice and my Dad’s as part of my inheritance.

He was passionate about his faith and no one needed to tell you that Uncle Yunusa was a deeply religious man. You only needed to be in his presence to know that his spirituality was deep. His aura was unmistakable, his kindness genuine. He was always travelling for meetings on interreligious matters and was at home at conferences on Arabic literature, Islamic civilisation and other such matters in far flung places. He was well respected and very Knowledgeable in his field. He was deputy Grand Khadi in old Kwara State before he was appointed the Grand Khadi of Kogi State in 1991, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.

He told everyone who cared to listen that his niece was a network newscaster on NTA and I told anyone who cared to listen that my uncle was a most respected Islamic scholar who preached peace wherever he went and lived within the precincts of peace all his life. Within his larger family, Uncle Yunusa was a voice of calm and reason and although he was not the oldest male in his family, he became well known worldwide for his peaceful demeanour, his writings about living in harmony and his continuous interest in peace building initiatives. One on one, he was soft spoken and calm, in full regalia he was good looking, well- spoken and often resplendent in his white robes, with his beard speckled in grey, distinguished in his mien and carriage.

Alhaji Ustaz Yoonus Abdullahi has passed at a time when Nigeria needs many voices of peace as we go through challenging times. While his larger family in Okene Nigeria will miss him greatly for his fatherly role and his wise counsel, Kogi State has lost a man whose intellect and knowledge of Islamic precepts stood him head and shoulder above his peers.

Everybody speaks about Uncle Yunusa in such warm tones and he had a huge role in the Nation’s Islamic firmament. He authored many books including” A glance at Islam and democracy” held in 19 libraries worldwide.

Me, I lost an Uncle who had a rich voice with a warm guttural texture, whose eyes looked at me fondly and who was there for the family in sorrow and in joy, who believed in me and loved whoever I chose to love. Uncle Yunusa was one of my favourite Uncles who suffered a stroke but has now gone home to rest.

He is survived by his wife Aunty Sefi, his children who are my cousins, many brothers and sisters .He is mourned by fellow Islamic scholars and a multitude of his students, who believed in him. Peace to Uncle Yunusa and may Allah grant him Aljannah, Amin.

Eugenia Abu is writer and broadcaster.