In memory of beloved a father and friend, Abdulrahman Babayola

It was really like the breeze that blows when I received the death of my father, AbdulrahmanBabayola, who left a heart ache no one can heal. On the 16th of March 2011 I passed the night in a friend’s house in Bulukutu-Abuja, a suburb in Maiduguri, to pay condolence to my friend who was bereaved of her grand papa “Chuchu.” I met my own misfortune in the morning of 17th of March 2011 that my father and friend,Babayola,had passed on.  “It cut as keen as knife”, was thrown in turmoil. My father and friend had bid farewell to the world. He had been hospitalisedat the National Hospital Abuja and barely spent three days there before he has gone beyond to rest. News never came to me that he was in the hospital. My father had been struggling to see us grow up, to learn to fly, to spread our wings. But faith played it role. Indeed life is an “Amana” a “Trust” that would be return.
I remember you dear father but words cannot profess how much I do. It is three years today but your memories are evergreen, remembering all the troubles I put you through whenever I passed the Federal Secretariat tears won’t stop rolling. I followed you there on several occasions for you to patronise the staff clinic. At all angle people cheered and called your name and now I wonder if your name still reads on their lips; If they still remember you lived. But for us it’s day food. Anyway, that’s life.
I admire your attitude of perseverance towards humanity and life itself. You tolerated what seemed intolerable; you possessed a forgiving heart; your philosophy towards life is that it is too short to worry over things; and you taught that education is an asset that once you have it no one can take it away. These are values that we cherish and stick to and the humanity needs them now than ever.
You were a kind-hearted father who on many occasions displeased himself to please others in order to give back to the society. You always advised us that it is best to help others and to be helpful to others stressing that humility is a virtue, no sacrifice is too big. In fact, Icannot ask for a better dad. I reminisce that your hard work earned you the best staff of the Federal Ministry of Health in 1994. You are worthy of emulation not only to your children but to the entire humanity.
As a historian who loved reading, Dad,your home state, Adamawa, Federal Civil Service Commission where you served in the Federal Ministries of Health, Education, Culture and Tourism and Niger Delta (where you werenewly place before departing) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project, can hardly forget your contributions and commitment to service. We are proud of you and continue to build from where you departed us.
We wish you and other departed souls Allah’s pleasure and your legacies live with us and we promise to advance them till our time comes.
Babayola writes from Phase IV Housing Estate, Kubwa, Abuja