Shehu Muazu Ruma: Remembering a father to all
Alhaji Shehu Muazu Ruma has died, but his legacies will continue to live forever. He is a dedicated Muslim, a caring father, a loving husband, a trusted community leader, politician, a medical personnel and a great administrator and above all, a father to all and sundry. No doubt, he is father not only to his […]
Alhaji Shehu Muazu Ruma has died, but his legacies will continue to live forever. He is a dedicated Muslim, a caring father, a loving husband, a trusted community leader, politician, a medical personnel and a great administrator and above all, a father to all and sundry.
No doubt, he is father not only to his biological children but also to all members of Ruma family and the society in general.
Infact, January 15 of every year will remain an unforgettable day to the family of the late Alhaji Ruma (Gado da masun Katsina) who is being missed dearly. He extended his generosity to the people who were not members of his family but who are all considered part of his household. This was part of his openness, accommodating and non-discriminatory nature in which many referred to him as their own father and him, in return, treated them as if they are his own biological children.
Indeed, in the house, there is always difficulty in differentiating between those who were the biological children and who are not. Our father carried everyone as his own and treated them equally.
Being a descendant of the great warrior and a grandchild of Danwaire was the Gado da Masun Katsina and the District Head of Wagini in Batsari Local Government until his demised on the January 15, 2004 after an illness that last for four years.
Our father being one of the oldest of the Rumawa dynasty was also an arbitrator and solicitor to the family. He was a complete gentle man and an easy going person who related freely with anyone and always cracking jokes and laughing with those around. While alive, I never heard him hold any grudge with anyone and easily forgive and forget no matter how one had wronged him. His, was a policy of we all sinned against Allah and he forgives us, so why can’t we forgive those who sinned against us
I remember vividly when he was appointed as a member of Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina, (Katsina State Development Fund), he was assigned to buy cows and other agricultural machineries to be distributed as loan to farmers in various local government areas of the state. He expended the whole amount and accounted for all the expenditure. No single kobo was missing because he was straight in his dealings. Whenever there was any excess amount, he returned such to the development fund. This was no doubt a rare quality lacking in so many of our leaders today.
The last meeting I had with our father was when he was in hospital at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. He was old but his memory was intact. He observed all the five daily prayers at the right time. I was with him for sixteen days. He asked me when will I be going back to school. I left the hospital on January 14 and that was the last time I saw him. He died the following day.
He was born on April 26, 1926 at Ruma, he was enrolled at the then Ruma Elementary School in 1937 and completed his Elementary School in the year 1942 and got admission into the famous Katsina Middle school the same year. His contemporaries were eminent personalities such Abba Kalli, (Wanban Katsina) Kabir Katsina (Late Emir of Katsina) Bashar Daura, (Late Emir of Daura), Abu Umar, ‘Tukur Yar’Adua (Late Santurakin Katsina) and among others.
After graduating in 1947, he started work with Katsina Native Authority and was posted to Katsina General Hospital. He later proceeded to Kano Medical Auxiliary School from 1949 to 1950.
Alhaji Ruma was the first medical personnel from the then Katsina Province to undergo training in the treatment of Leprosy at Oji River Leprosy Training School from 1950 to 1952.
After completing the course, he became the officer in-charge of treatment and control of Leprosy under the Katsina Native Authority from 1952 to 1960. He was promoted to Rural Health Superintendent before joining the then Northern Region Government Civil Service and was posted to Sardauna Province. He worked there until the creation of states under the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, making him to move to the then North Central State until he retired in 1979.
His was credited for the establishment of Leprosy treatment and control centres throughout the former Katsina Province and fostering of unity and political tolerance in Kasar Ruma.
He underwent a course at the World Health Organization, (WHO) Training School, Yaba, Lagos in 1972. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly 1975, Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Dutsin-Ma Local Government in 1976, member, Federal House of Representative in 1979, Commissioner, Chieftaincy Affairs, Kaduna State in 1983 and was appointed District Head of Wagini 1992 with the title of Gado da Masun Katsina.
He was also a member, Health Committee Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina, Dutsin-Ma Zonal Chairman, Agriculture Committee Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina and later member, Advisory Board Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina up to the time of his death in 2004. An astute politician, he was a member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, (NPN), under which he was elected member of the Federal House of Representatives in 1979. He was a member of the defunct National Republican Convention, (NRC). His pastime includes farming and animal rearing.
Abubakar wrote from Abuja