When the news of her death began to trickle in, I felt I had lost someone I knew and liked personally. In fact, I initially doubted the veracity of the news.
However, whenever I remember the fact that she has gone on a journey of no return to meet our Creator, I get comforted by the fact that she lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
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Hajia, as she was popularly known, was an Octogenarian who was an epitome of goodwill, love, togetherness and forgiveness. Even the people on the other side of the divide knew she lived a clean, peaceful and purposeful life – she was a clear definition of a mother. She hated no one and she perpetually preached against bad manners and bad intentions even if it would be assembled against a clear enemy. Hajia Maimuna believed people should always forgive and forget the ill orchestrated on them. In the extreme, even if someone must not forgive, he must allow God to be his Judge!
An absolute disciplinarian, Hajia was born in 1934 at Ungwan Sirdi in the ancient city of Zaria into the family of Mallam Buhari Ibrahim. Like all her contemporaries, Hajia Maimuna Buhari started her Islamic education at a young age and it continued even after she got married and throughout her old age. Just like her mother (Mallama Binta Buhari), Hajia was an ardent supporter of righteousness.
Within her reasonable income, she was able to buy a gigantic brothel at Maraban Jos district, Igabi Local Government area of Kaduna State and converted the structure into a palatable mosque and school. She cared for the well being of the society and she believed Government alone cannot do it all. Hajia had harbored so many destitute children. She had given food and settled so many bills regarding hospitals and schools for the downtrodden. She had a strong belief that people who enjoy relative plenty must give back to the society what God has blessed them with.
One of her virtues was her generous willingness to help the society. In fact, her eldest and only male child, Mallam Suraj Balarabe Yakubu, the Santuraki Babba of Zazzau, inherited only a tip of an iceberg of her good virtues.
Hajia Maimuna Buhari Ibrahim died on Monday 20th July 2020 at about 7.15pm after a protracted illness. She was survived by six children (Mallam Suraj B. Yakubu, Amina, Jummai, Lami, Suwaiba and Uwale) and many grandchildren. May God continue to bless her soul and reward her with the highest status of paradise. Amiin.
Dalhat ([email protected]) wrote from No.1 Mairo Tababa Road, Rigachikun, Kaduna.
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