Mala Kachallah: Five years on

Every time I pass by the Gwange cemetery, I look in all directions, hopping that I will catch a glimpse of Mala Kachallah, my hero.  In the past five years, I traversed that road with a sense of loss. His grave remains unmarked amongst the multitude of tombs at the cemetery in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. I may never be able to locate the exact spot, even to lay a wreath on his grave, but each year I feel a deeper sense of loss, and often, I ask for prayers for the repose of his soul. It is five years already since he was escorted to that abode, and many people today remember him with nostalgia, believing that he was one man who could have made the difference in the present circumstances.

He must have turned a million times over in his grave, seeing what has become of me and his political dynasty. He may have cried over and over, watching developments in the enclave known as the Home of Peace, the affairs of which he oversaw for four years and for which he was nicknamed Captain of peace. Mala Kachallah would certainly have been disappointed with the people of Borno State to whom he bequeathed a legacy of peace and unity.  Looking back at his times, one cannot help wishing that he should have lived longer, even outside power, so that he could lend to some of us his virtues, which endeared him to all people; irrespective of political, religious or ethnic inclinations.

I know that many peop[le are praying today for the continued repose of the soul of Mala Kachallah. He was a benefactor, a mentor and more importantly a role model to so many people. Five 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, and yet many cherish him for his humility and his Godliness. Everybody who encountered the late sage will certainly miss something good about him. I will particularly miss his fatherly disposition towards me.

The memories of life with Mala Kachallah may be sweet, but five 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 and the legacies he bequeathed are hardly noticed in the actions and attitudes of all of us. Many have abandoned those things he stood for and adopted survivalist tendencies. Of course, one of the many things that makes the sage turn in his grave is the situation where the average Borno person is being viewed with suspicion as a potentially violent person. Against the background of the known disposition of Borno people as traditionally peace loving and tolerant, it remains a sad commentary that only five years down the lane, the goodwill for which we were known has been squandered. People who have lived together for so many years have taken up arms against each other.

One of the many questions I often ask, is, what difference could Mala Kachallah have made in the face of the apparent defeatism occasioned by the security situation in the country? I know for certain, that, if Mala Kachallah were alive, he would have mobilized a strong force that would have decisively intervened and possibly secured a truce. I am also confident that, he would have prevailed on aggrieved parties to seek for more peaceful means of presenting their grievances. Even beyond that, Mala Kachallah would have advised the Federal Government especially on a more acceptable approach to resolving the crisis, different from the situation we have, where those who were expected to proffer solutions were found to have a hand in aiding and abating the crisis.

Even in death, one can read the lips of Mala Kachallah to the effect that he would have advocated peace and reconciliation summit, drawing parties to the crisis to a roundtable in a more honest dialogue, devoid of the schism that attended the efforts of others. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the demise of this gentleman, it becomes compelling upon me. to for the umpteenth time call on the people of Borno to give peace a chance. We must learn to forgive each other for whatever past mistakes, and work towards regaining our lost glory as the citadel of peace. We should reflect on the virtues of the late sage and work towards making a Borno of his dreams. When we do that, we will be doing a great justice to the memory of the man all would have loved were around today.

Bwala was media aide to ex-governor Kachallah  ([email protected])