I had an invisible mentor in Gimba

What later blossomed into a father and son kind of affiliation began when I first read his award-winning novel, Witnesses to tears as one of the recommended texts for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board exams more than a decade ago. I so fell in love with the book that I pleasurably read it over […]

What later blossomed into a father and son kind of affiliation began when I first read his award-winning novel, Witnesses to tears as one of the recommended texts for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board exams more than a decade ago. I so fell in love with the book that I pleasurably read it over and over again. The almost flawless text has the trappings of a good literary effort. The simple diction, flawless grammar, consistent concord and flowery line of narration made the book second to none. The book fired up my passion for literature, arts and creativity generally.
Gimba’s Witnesses to tears is more than a novel, it is a complete dossier of what art represents-life, fulfilment, pleasure, freedom and exploration. Strangely however, we never had physical contact before he passed on last week. All I know and understand about this literary Iroko are largely based on his works and the confessional statements of his countless apostles, like BM Dzukogi (my oga). Having consumed several of his brilliant weekly columns in both Weekly Trust and Nigerian Tribune newspapers, the only thing left for me to do was meeting him in person. I enjoyed his line of thoughts.  . His literary interventions were quite legendary, very enlightening and laced with strong lessons. His arguments were people-driven, broad-based and filled with penetrating anecdotes needed for deep reasoning.
Malam Abubakar was much more interested in promoting issues that will better the lots of everyone. He was by any standard, a true nationalist and statesman. He related so well with Nigerians across ethnic, religious or tribal divides. He was not a man known for parochialism. So many tongues wagged when, out of sheer conviction and the need to promote unity in diversity, he chose to begin a weekly column in the Ibadan-based Tribune newspapers. Many wondered what a core northerner of Gimba’s standing could be doing with a paper outside his territory. He took time to actually offer very vivid explanations of what motivated his action as captured in his book, “Why Am I Doing This?”, a compilation of his articles. He said, “I have no tall ambition: just to make a contribution to national discourse so as to make life meaningful , with or without the present boundaries that defines Nigeria.”  
His pan-Nigeria disposition was never in doubt. On why Nigeria cannot afford a break-up or balkanization, he said, “I believe we have great things going for us if we remain peaceful country. One Nigeria, (what’s in a name? call it Bini, Biafra, Nok, Oduduwa or Songhai) that is peaceful, democratic and dynamic, is the best deal any of the present components of what we call our country can have. The cleavages inspired by the tempting allures of Eldorado cannot guarantee the greatness that a one Nigeria could attain. You cannot have greatness by diminution. Ask the Russians”, he concluded. In his passing, humanity is robbed of one its finest minds. The literary community is in sombre mood. The body of patriotic Nigerians has lost a consistent member. An ‘A-class’ writer has exited the stage. The authors’ author, cerebral novelist, fine writer and leading crusader in the struggle for an egalitarian society, has dropped the gauntlet.  May Allah grant your soul Aljannah fir’daus.

Abdullahi  Yunusa, FHA, Kubwa, FCT <[email protected]>;