‘What I learned writing the biography of Sardauna’s wife’

How did you become a writer, a journalist and now a lecturer?  My father is a military engineer, Sergeant Major Adamu Pankshin. He enrolled me in primary school known as Army Children School, New Cantonment in Ribadu Barrack, Kaduna. I later gained admission into Queen Amina College, Kaduna. I have been a creative writer since […]

How did you become a writer, a journalist and now a lecturer?

 My father is a military engineer, Sergeant Major Adamu Pankshin. He enrolled me in primary school known as Army Children School, New Cantonment in Ribadu Barrack, Kaduna. I later gained admission into Queen Amina College, Kaduna. I have been a creative writer since college. My aunt, who was working in the Northern Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, now Kaduna State Media Corporation, KSMC, Kaduna, invited me to write a script for use in a children’s program on Radio. The college allowed me to go out and submit the script to the radio station and come back. My mother encouraged me, the reverend sisters of the college encouraged me also. I went to the US and studied Film and script writing at Layola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and then studied broadcasting at Columbia College, Hollywood.

When did you start practicing journalism?

I started practicing at NTA Jos as a News Editor between 1985 and 1987. I then joined The Democrat Newspaper in Kaduna as the Woman Editor, handling children and entertainment pages because of my background in film. I was promoted to be the Deputy Editor of the Weekly Democrat. I then joined ABU, Zaria as a Lecturer.

When did you publish your first book?

 I published the book when I was working as a journalist with the Democrat newspapers. It was a collection of the script of the work I did for radio; it was titled ‘Adventurers of Hauwa’. A lady in the United Kingdom wanted to buy the copyright so that they can use it for African Literature, but unfortunately, I lost her contact. ‘Adventures of Hauwa’ was published in 1992. The second was ‘Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello: Unsung heroine’ published in 1995. The third was the Hausa language version of the second book titled ‘Hafsatu Ahamdu Bello: Jarumar Da ba’a Ruruta ba’ published in 2003, it was published due to popular demand by Hausa readers. The fourth publication was ‘Adamu Pankshin: The soldiers’ soldier,’ it was a biography of my late father who was a military giant. Arewa House, Kaduna, encouraged me to write the biography of my dad. The Hausa version was titled ‘Adamu Pankshin: Sojan Sojoji’. 

What motivates you to continue writing? Is it for money or what?

 No. I was not writing for money, it was for interest. Because I was busy with my PhD research, I didn’t write books. Even though I was through, I still have many research works going on, but when I am done, I will continue writing and publishing both fiction and non-fiction.

Can you share your experience with us about writing both fiction a non-fiction?

 I want the public to know the wife of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello who sacrificed her life for her husband. She is the daughter of Waziri Maccido Abdulkadir. They are known as Gidadawa. They played a very crucial role in the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate and they related by inter marriages with the Sheikh Usman Danfodio dynasty. The 18th Sultan of Sokoto, late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki gave me permission to write the book and introduced me to both families. Dasuki knew my father because he worked as the first Nigerian District Officer, DO, in Pankshin District. 

What is the lesson to be learnt from Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello by modern women who talk about love, but practice something different in both polygamous and monogamous homes?

It is noteworthy that Hafsatu was the senior wife in a polygamous marriage, but she sacrificed her life for her love, the Sardauna. She was closer to him than the other wives and she felt her life will be meaningless without her first love. She was trying to shield him from the bullets when the soldiers shot her in the neck, and the Premier was trying to keep her down when the mutineers shot him. Most modern women are not loyal to their husbands, and I call on them to emulate the love of Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello by showing love to their husbands.

Why do you think they are not loyal to their husbands?

 Women were more caring, loving and family oriented then than now.  Modern women now are after popularity, money, what they will benefit from the man and when they see danger coming to the man, they leave him. The generation of Hafsatu and now is very different.

What were the ups and downs you had in journalism?

 I worked within the ethics of the profession. Being the woman editor, I covered Maryam Babangida’s Better Life Programme, BLP, and I travelled with her within and outside Nigeria. But one day, I was invited for an event at Nigeria Air Force base in Kaduna. When I came to office and wrote my story, Air Force came and complained that I should explain how I got the story from the barracks. I said I was there for an event when an incident happened. And I tried to speak to the PRO then, but I could not get access to him. They were really angry with me for writing a report, they were saying that no news goes out of the military barracks.

What happened?

 After the event, there was fire in one of the blocks, I rushed to cover it, but the occupants were blaming the house girl for starting the fire deliberately.

Why did you leave Journalism for academia?

 I went to Professor Daniel Saror, who was the Vice Chancellor and wanted to get him to give me discount for the first book “Adventures of Hauwa.” He asked me about my qualification and I told him. He told me to apply and I did that, but I got a scholarship to Israel when the appointment letter came during the administration of General Abdussallami Abubakar, who had increased workers’ salaries, Baba Joe Dagoshie came to my house at Jabi Road and told me to join them in February, 1999.

What did you study in Israel?

 It was a fellowship on Development Communication. I feel it is not easy to write now. But I am trying to come back to writing later. I was invited to the British Film Institute and made a presentation on Beyond Nollywood. 

Any regrets being an author, journalist and now an academician?

 No regrets. The academia is busier than journalism because you are on throughout the day thinking, reading theories, planning, giving lectures, writing publications in features and journals, conference papers and lots more.