Salihi: Exit of a true mentor

Malam was a gentleman who served humanity in different capacities diligently, wholeheartedly and faithfully. In scholarship he was thorough and brilliant, dedicating his life to classroom, research and mentoring. He was always available with listening ears to the low and mighty. On that fateful day, a friend called from Gombe in the dead of the […]

Malam was a gentleman who served humanity in different capacities diligently, wholeheartedly and faithfully. In scholarship he was thorough and brilliant, dedicating his life to classroom, research and mentoring. He was always available with listening ears to the low and mighty.

On that fateful day, a friend called from Gombe in the dead of the night to pass on the terrible news. It was terrible news to me because Salihi was a pillar in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano and to Kano politics. Like many, I am still trying to get out of the shock. We won’t stop mourning him anytime soon, but after our tears have dried up, can we start planning something in his name in the form of a book? Foundation? Structure? Or something else.

The news of the death of Salihi killed my sleep for the rest of that night. He was an advocate of democracy and democratic principles practically and in the four walls of the classroom. There is hardly an intellectual political move in the Fourth Republic Kano that took place without Salihi’s inimitable presence and support. A real spokesman for democratic ideals per excellence, his ideas were dynamic and inspiring.

Once you come close to him you will definitely respect him, to know him was to love him, to work with him was to admire him. He provided guidance and encouragement for the young to excel in academics.    To us his students we celebrate the life of a notable political figure, an academic, a conservative with huge radical underpinnings whose efforts in struggling to emancipate his people through scholarship and communal efforts were legendary.

Truly, he was a man of the people who interacted directly with all persons from different classes, background, high or low, young and old.  His life was one dedicated to service and advancement of human cause. His last words to me was on scholarship, that when he comes back from medical treatment in India he would make his contribution to a proposed book by the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil on Issues on Contemporary Kano available, the proposal he painstakingly added value to.

The deceased was passionate and dedicated to anything that he believed in. A good Muslim by all accounts, his zeal and greater commitments were towards a better society and the drive to hold governments responsive and responsible for the attainment of good governance and representative democracy.

He has contributed to the development of a number of structures that increased the quality of human life and he was not left out when it comes to enhancing women Islamic education and loaning out books to all.

Haruna Muhammad Salihi, an Associate Professor, was one person who spoke truth to power; he was vibrant, just as he merged his intellect with activism.

He was born to a humble parents five decades ago at Kankarofi quarters in the ancient city of Kano, Nigeria. He started his education at a Koranic school later went to the prestigious Rumfa College, Kano and thereafter proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he read Political Science. As a student of high level distinction he obtained Msc and PhD Political Science from the Bayero University, Kano where he taught International Administration, Islamic Political Thought as his area of interest for almost three decades. A hallmark of his scholarship is the ability to articulate and present very complex and complicated issues in a simple and comprehensible manner that even a lay person on the street could understand and appreciate.

Highly humble, well disciplined and pious Salihi represented Kano State as a delegate to 2005 Nigerian Constitutional Conference; he was a founding member and executive to the Bayero University, Kano Muslim Forum and Hudaibiyya Foundation, Kano; Member, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil Governing Council and Member, Kano State Societal Reorientation Board (Adaidaita Sahu).

It is overwhelming to hear the outpouring of grief that has been coming from relatives, friends, colleagues and students since the passing away of Dr. Salihi. The great loss is to scholarship, Kano, Nigeria and Africa. We are still struggling to come to terms with it.

His death is like losing a multitude of a five-star general  in one battle, and a lot more scholars and activists in just a day. There are few of his likes in our generation. Truly he was a nice person, with a finer mission and the finest vision for Africa.

He sincerely and desperately wanted solutions to our myriad of problems. He departed and left behind Kano, a state that has become notorious for its high number of commercial motorcyclists, high population of divorcees, drug addicts and so many negativities. He left Nigeria, celebrated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, with many manufacturing industries closed and ruined infrastructures.

His demise at this critical moment in our chequered history is the fall of a colossus whose passions tinged with humane attributes and will continue to be remembered.

Finally, Malam as difficult as it seems to believe that you are gone with all your wonderful characteristics; we have to accept the will of the Almighty Allah. As Muslims, we accept the Holy Qur’an verse which says, “Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial, and to Us is your return.”

All that is left for us to do is to pray for you. I, therefore, beseech the Almighty Allah (SWT) whom you worshipped to the best of your ability will grant you the benefit of Aljannah Firdaus. This He has promised all those who did His will.

I believe the legacy you left will live forever and remain deep in our heart and mind.  Truly Dr. Haruna Muhammad Salihi had a humble entry, and triumphant exit. May his soul rest in peace.

Muhammad wrote from the Kano University Science and Technology, Wudil. [email protected]