Mala Kachallah: Three years without a wreath

I can vividly recollect the look on his face. It was that of a man satisfied with himself even in death. Those who attended his funeral may recall the exact words said about him. In one corner where I was hurdled up, I can recollect the looks of anguish on the faces of both the […]

I can vividly recollect the look on his face. It was that of a man satisfied with himself even in death. Those who attended his funeral may recall the exact words said about him. In one corner where I was hurdled up, I can recollect the looks of anguish on the faces of both the mighty and the weak, the rich and the poor, friends and foes alike. I can picture the multitude that converged at the cemetery to bid him farewell. Even as we mark the third anniversary of his demise, his memory remains fresh.

In a society where emphasis is placed on the laying of wreaths at the tomb of heroes, many would have been heading to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to pay respects at the tomb of former Borno state governor, the late Mala Kachallah whose third year anniversary is slated for today, April 18th.In our society, we seldom go back to the cemetery to pay respects or even try to locate the graves of loved ones and pray or lay wreaths at such tombs. This practice has made it impossible for those of us who claim to be Kachallah’s associates to visit the Gwange cemetery where the man was buried in the name of paying respects or laying wreaths.

Be that as it may, I know many people are praying today for the continued repose of the soul of Mala Kachallah. He was a benefactor to many, a political mentor for yet many and a role model to others. Three years after his death, Mala Kachallah is still being discussed beyond Borno state with reverence. While many loved him for his simplicity, others for his honesty, many for his humility and yet many others for his Godliness. Greater numbers of people miss his welfarist approach to governance, even as many miss the excellent meals he shared with them even when they made little or no imputs into governance. Anybody who encountered the late sage will certainly miss something about him.

Some of us will miss the fatherly role played by the late Mala Kachallah. Very often, he will caution me against some of my combative remarks against his opponents and critics. More often, Kachallah will draw his critics even closer, and shower praises on some of them, even those unmistakably against him. Only a few of us understood his politics and even fewer internalized it. Those who clang to him just to get free meals and spread gossips about others or pretend to be protecting him are equally touched by the man’s death now that all the things they thrived upon are not there.

The memories of life with Mala Kachallah may be sweet, but three years after his death, when one looks around, one sees the sad reminder of the fact that the virtues for which Mala Kachallah was known for are hardly noticed in the actions of all of us who profess his philosophies. Many have abandoned those things he stood for. The few who claim to still profess his life and political philosophies have turned their advocacy into some forms of trade from which they court political patronage. Many others have been missing from the scene, even as many have taken up other vocations. The only project initiated in his memory; a biographical book has been stalled. No one sends greetings to the family. The few who remember to call make it issues for political propaganda. To a large extent, all of us are guilty in one way or the other.

As for me, I have adopted a cautious but optimistic approach in the hope that I will secure my own survival as a professional without deviating from his personal principles. When many accused me of being too soft on Borno state Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, against whom the late Kachallah was involved in a bitter political rivalry, my answer has always been that what am doing is in compliance with Kachallah’s philosophy of forgiveness and politics without bitterness. If there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics, I will appear naive to continue fighting long after my principal died. Moreover, the issues over which we quarelled with Sheriff are no longer there.

I have made a vow that for ten years, I will continue to pay tribute to Mala Kachallah in the best way I can. I do not owe anybody any explanations on how I lead my post Kachallah life, but certainly, I will not play to the gallery in my tributes. It will be the height of intolerance for me as a professional journalist, to fail to make imputs into the governance of my state; whether good or bad. Where were those who are accusing when I criticized Governor Sheriff to the high heavens? Against his principle of forgiveness and politics without bitterness, many of Kachallah’s disciples have remained in the trenches fighting political battles that have long been fought and decided.  

Looking at our hypocrisy from the prism beyond, Mala Kachallah may have turned many times over in his grave. The comforting thing is that, we all remeber him and mourn with the family, even as we pray for his continued repose in Aljannah. Untill next year when many will remember him again, its adieu my boss.

Inuwa Bwala served as Senior Special Assistant on Media to the late Mala Kachallah  ([email protected])