Abdullahi, oh Abdullahi!

Beyond existentialist theory, there is a universal accord that death is feared and detested by all, including the bravest among men. The Qur’an says every soul will pass through death. Hence, it is a universal and free gateway for all living things.

It has powers to break through fortresses. It is insensitive to accomplishments in life and does not respect age, station, class or race.  When it smiles, every other thing gives way.  Perhaps, the only sure thing is death.

Everyone is sure to die sometime, wily-nilly. Many will not care to leave the world today, if there are better ways apart from dying. These thoughts come up in my mind on-again-and-off-again.

My childhood friend from Zaria, Malam Yunusa, had visited my residence last Monday and we were driving to the Suleja General Hospital to visit a lad who had been ill, when our cartoonist, Malam Aliyu Yahya, called to inform me that my friend, Abdullahi, is a closed chapter. I muted ‘from Allah we came and unto Him is our journeying’ in Arabic. Shock waves ran down my spine.  I ‘died’ a little. ‘No, it couldn’t be Abdullahi’, another thought crossed my mind. Few minutes later, I received another message from Malam Hamisu Muhammad, a colleague, confirming that indeed, Abdullahi Rogo is no more.

He died in a car crash in Kano on Sunday. Last year, Abdullahi had survived a similar accident where he sustained a fracture that was healing before this last one that ended his stay in this temporal life.

With Abdullahi’s exit, it is indeed one death too many for the Media Trust family.  Last year, the death of another colleague, Zainab, had caught us napping.

Back in the years, we had lost fine journalists, including Mr. Duro Iroja, a First Class material, Reuben Yunana, State House, Jibrin Daudu, pioneer editor of the Daily Trust and others whom we worked together as a family to make the paper a success story.

Then, reporters had to send their stories through fax machine. There was also a NAN machines in the news editor’s office. Occasionally, I peeped in and Malam Abdullahi Tasiu, who was the News Editor then in 2001, will be sorting stories and battling to arrange the fax papers.

One of the very first persons I met was Abdullahi. He was good in computer operation and had a mastery of the Arabic language.

With him, it was always an opportunity for me to interact in the language of the Qur’an. We shared thoughts and he was a very humble person.

One of the Qur’an verses that Abdullahi often quoted is the one saying that this life is for a while and with Allah is a better reward and a lasting abode. Abdullahi loved humanity.

Since he was transferred to Kano, he had visited me twice at home whenever he came to Abuja, and I really enjoyed his company.

My consolation is that although Abdullahi is physically dead, he is however alive, for the soul of a man never dies. He will be resurrected on the day of gathering, the day of regrets, the day of standing, the Day of Judgment. There, I believe, we shall meet to depart no more.

He loved God. God loves him, people loved him. I wish his wife, daughter, friends and parents the fortitude to bear the loss. May his soul rest in peace and may Aljanat Firdaus be his final resting place.  Abdullahi be rest assured that we shall join you.