Late Garba Idris: We miss you

The day I will never forget in my life is April 23,, 2014. Innalillahiwainnailayhilrajiun. If only I could erase it from my memory, but then it’s impossible. On that day, I lost my father, who was very dear to me and family members, and kind to those who he did not know personally. He was such a rare gem: strong, bold and above all, a very honest man. He was a pillar everybody could lean on; he had supported and touched the lives of many people positively. This is a huge loss to all, not his family members only. Thankfully, we remember him everyday and pray that his soul will continue to rest in peace.   
I received a phone call around 8:am from my uncle that was in Abuja, telling me he had heard that my dad’s health was in critical condition. My cousin also called, informing me of the same and asked me to keep on praying for him. Less than five minutes later, he called again. When I saw his call, I lost hope and waited for him to break the bad news to me. He told me that we have to take heart- we had lost him.
I was in shock; I did not know what I was doing. I asked him to put my mother on the phone but he hung up. I tried calling a few people but none of them was responding. I quickly got up and left for Zaria with my uncle and cousins. When I arrived Zaria, I went for jana’izah and then to the grave yard for burial according Islamic laws. I saw many of my family members crying and even those who were not related to him because they had lost someone very dear to them.
 April 22, 2014 was the last time I spoke with him. He had called me that day around 3pm, asking me about my NYSC primary assignment and I had explained everything to him. I was meant to call him on the day he died to inform him about my deployment, but I did not get to speak with him, sadly.
His name was Garba Abubakar Mohammed, popularly known as Garba Idris. He was born on February 12, 1962 in Giwa Local Government Area in Kaduna State. He went to LEA primary School, Giwa and then later proceeded to Sardauna Memorial College for his secondary school education. After that, he got admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained a diploma and then went abroad for his degree programme in England. He later did his masters in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. His last job as a cilvil servant was with the Petroleum Equalization Funds Management Board.
It was after his death we found out the good things he had done for people, which we did not know about when he was alive.He was very special to me. Being the first male child, he used to tell me to focus on my studies because that’s all he can offer me. That he will die someday and the education he was giving was the only thing that could help me when he dies. Today, I’m thankful to God, to him and to my mother for all their support throughout my educational struggle. I have obtained a Bsc in Business Information Systems and Master’s in International Business Management.
  We can only continue praying for him because he did everything for us which we needed as his family (my mother and my 5 siblings). Since his death, we always get positive comments about him. He was from royal families both from his father’s and mother’s side. However, that did not change him at all- he was friendly to everybody, always smiling and trying to serve humanity. People often tell me to follow his footsteps or at least try and be like him because it is not easy to find people like him. They’re God’s gift; they come once in a generation.
He left behind two wivesand six children- three males and three females. May God have mercy on all the souls we have lost. May God restore peace back to our lovely country,amen.
Idris can be reached at [email protected]