Niger’s ‘super-polygamist’ resurfaces after death rumour

A first time visitor to Masaba ward, Bida residence of the super-polygamist, Malam Mohammed Bello Abubakar Masaba, would hardly need any serious description. The three-storey structure on Kota-Woro road which houses the octogenarian and his many wives and aides is enough lead. The building is one of its kind on the street which has become […]

A first time visitor to Masaba ward, Bida residence of the super-polygamist, Malam Mohammed Bello Abubakar Masaba, would hardly need any serious description. The three-storey structure on Kota-Woro road which houses the octogenarian and his many wives and aides is enough lead.
The building is one of its kind on the street which has become popular with his rising fame. Work on the fourth storey had since been suspended but the other part got some transformation lately.
There is no sign of mourning around the almost a decade-old building when Daily Trust on Saturday visited last Sunday following news of the demise.
Imposing as ever, the old building rather wore a glowing countenance. The atmosphere on the popular street and around the residence was also as convivial. Followers and aides of Pa Masaba, who sat on mats at the veranda, discussed in loud, happy voices.
It was a few minutes past 2pm and the 92-year old had just finished his afternoon prayers with followers and gone up to his private apartment on the last floor of the building. An aide came down with a message some minutes later that he was ready to receive us.
The journey through the staircase to the third floor was herculean, even for a young man in his 20s.One had to push his way up, intermittently shouting for space to wade through to avoid collision with the armies of aides, patients and visitors. Many hanged around the stairs’ railings, discussing, while others sat on the steps, thereby retarding movement.
The octogenarian rose to welcome reporters who were in Bida for an update on news of his demise. His appearance belied his age. He moved with the agility of a 40-year-old as he extended his arms for handshakes.
“As you can see,” he said, offering us seats, “I’m alive and well, my sons.”
 In the living room hung pictures taken at different times and the many awards from various organizations. He said his rumoured death was the handiwork of detractors.
 “My dear, I am very much alive, hale and hearty. This rumour is baseless, it is the work of detractors because they are envious of what God is using me to do in the lives of people,” he said.
But he would not name the detractors,  and would also not speak more on the matter, including reference to his many wives and children which puts him on the  spotlight.
After much persuasion, he referred us, albeit grudgingly, to his personal assistant, Alhaji Muttairu Salawudeen Bello, who he said had been with him since 1989. But even with Alhaji Bello, the issue of his wives and children was a no-go area.
“Baba’s detractors know themselves, they are not comfortable with his rising profile,” he said.
He said the death rumour which went virile on the Facebook Saturday evening, did not come as a surprise.
“It was not the first time,” he said, adding, “And it will continue but Baba will outlive those peddling it.”
 Perhaps, the many detractors Masaba and his aides meant, are the local and state authorities with whom he had running battles when the story of his 86 wives and 170 children went public in 2008. There was a public outcry from Islamic clerics and the local authorities. He was persuaded by the authorities to divorce 82 of his wives to reduce the number to four, according to Islamic injunction, but he objected.
“If God permits me, I will marry more than 86 women. A normal human being could not marry 86, but I could only by the grace of God,” he said.
He was charged under Sharia law and sent to prison and even sentenced to death before a Federal High Court ordered his release due to the absence of a provision in the penal code or Sharia administration of justice law to deal with such cases.
But the octogenarian went ahead with his resolve to have more wives with the number of children rising to 133 in 2011. He was to increase the number to 97 in 2012 and vowed to keep marrying as long as he lived.
 “A large number of wives? I only have 97 wives. I am still going to marry. I will keep marrying as long I am alive. Whoever is fighting me because of my wives or love life has missed it. Left for me, I would have married maybe two women, but what I am doing is divine. It is an assignment and I will keep marrying till the end of time. I just want to advise those fighting against the number of my wives to stop because such people are waging war against God, their creator,” he said.
Daily Trust on Saturday learnt that the number of his wives hover between 89 and 92. He was said to have divorced some, while his children are now between 89 and 200.
Salawudeen said the detractors are not resting on their oars to see Baba’s end but they now also have his over 5,000 dependents to contend with.
“The detractors will have to contend with us and we are ever ready to protect him through prayers and whatever means,” he said. The dependents are not just aides, they include his followers who believe he is a saviour of a kind.
“Baba is a living prophet of Allah,” an aide said.    The unnamed detractors will also have the armies of patients whose lives Baba has touched and is also catering for, to contend with. They occupy the entire ground floor of his residence at Masaba ward when our reporter visited, beside the many wives and children who make the household a polling unit for elections.