Memories of Baba Alkali, 10 years on

Since you passed away on 2 April 2006, ten years now, Baba Alkali (as you were fondly referred to in the Liman Umaru family), the family you left behind has grown larger and more successful. Alhamdulillah, the number of your grandchildren has more than doubled to 180 today, while all of us the 26 children you left behind are alive. Our lastborn, Mas’ud, is married with two children. Tijjani, now the Muqaddam of Pindiga, has successfully become a PhD holder, Barrister Hadi and Nasiru are pursuing their second degrees, and others are first-degree holders, with Aisha the only female amongst them. While four have ventured into carpentry business, our eldest brother Mustapha has retired from the civil service but still holding unto his farming hobby and he has also done as you wished by putting together his family in Gombe.
Remember, you had wished I stepped into your shoes as a preacher in the weekly Juma’at congregational prayer at Gombe Central Mosque, but I dodged? The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has compelled me to step in, and appointed me the Assistant Murshid. This followed the death of my teacher whom you recommended to the position, Malam Jaudo al-Mahdi. I pray Allah (SWT) to guide me in this onerous religious task. Grand Qadi (rtd) Usman Baba Liman is the Murshid (the position you held until your death). Additionally, your younger brother, Alhaji Muhammadu, is now the acting Chief Imam of the central mosque, now named Modibbo Bubayero Mosque.
Let me at this juncture also offer my condolence to you on the death of HRH the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar. I remember him describing you as someone who tells a person the naked truth however bitter it might be. This was when we visited him at his palace to condole one another on your demise. It is now two years since his death, and he was succeeded by his son, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III. Similarly, the Wazirin Gombe Alhaji Aliko Muhammad also passed away at the tail end of 2008, following a motor accident.
I believe you will also be happy to note that the person you recommended to take over as Gombe State Secretary of the JNI after the late Bunun Gombe Alhaji Bello Kansila, is doing his very best in keeping the organization to its responsibilities. He is Alhaji Sale Danburam (Magajin Malam Gombe). He remembers you pleaded for that, and says he will keep to the pledge till his last day in the office.
Regarding our three mothers that you left behind, they are still together as one, being taken care of maximally based on the training and discipline you gave and instilled in us. Each of us your children is trying to outdo the other in providing them the needs of life. And Alhamdulillah, as they pray for us every day, Allah (SWT) continues to shower His mercy and blessings on us. The bond of unity is strengthened by the day.
Just as your stipulated time in this world came to an end 2 April 2006, so also have three of your siblings joined you: Goggo Hajja (elder sister), Alhaji Hamma Adama Sarkin Daben Pindiga and Alhaji Shehuwa (younger brothers). Your bosom friends, AlhajiShehu UAT (Sarkin Alhazai) and Dankaden Gombe, Alhaji Muhammadu Yidi, have also answered the irresistible call. In fact, your only remaining friends within the vicinity are Alhaji Jibir Halilu Dukku, Alhaji Buba Turaki (Jamnati) and Alkali Bappa Bira.
I would also like to condole with you on the passing away of one of your grandchildren, which sad event happened on16 March 2016, less than three weeks to the 10th anniversary of your return to the Almighty Allah. He is Fa’izu, a son to your 6th child, Barrister Hadi, and namesake to your 10th child. He was 5 months old. And as Allah will have it, He bestowed our brother Shamsuddeen with what may be considered as a replacement to the departed soul. His wife was delivered of a baby boy named Muhammad Bello.
Meanwhile, there is no longer the need for the yearly sand-fill of the frontage of the house you left behind. This is because the whole area is now covered with interlocking tiles, courtesy of Dr Abubakar Ali Gombe. Remember he was the medical doctor who directed for your being taken to the then Federal Medical Centre (now Federal Teaching Hospital) Gombe during your terminal sickness. May Allah reward him in abundance.
Baba, we take solace in the fact that you left behind all the three things mentioned by the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that a Muslim continues to benefit from even in death: a righteous child that prays for him; knowledge left behind that is being used; and a continuously beneficial project (e.g. mosque, school, borehole, economic tree, etc.). The Islamiyya School you established is still being maintained; the knowledge you imparted being used; and we pray for you every day. In fact, one of our mothers (Jajum) and three of your children Dr Tijjani, Sa’adiyya and Fa’izu, along with a host of other relations, were recently in the Holy Land for the lesser hajj where they offered special prayers for you. One of your nephews, Habeeb, is now based in Jeddah (working for the IDB), thus nearer the Grand Mosque of Ka’abah, continuously praying to Allah to shower His mercies on our departed parents and all other believers.
We always keep at the back of our minds in all that we do, your wise counsel that you do unto others what you want them do unto you, which is in fact a Prophetic saying. We try as much to assist others in various ways within capabilities, desist from cheating or hurting others’ feelings. While we apologize for wrongs done to others, we forgive and forget wrongs done to us in line with the teachings of Chapter 3 Verse 133 of the Holy Qur’an, which says: “Each soul shall have a taste of death”. Sooner or later, we shall be with you in al-Jannah Firdaus, insha Allah, to part no more.
Pindiga is the Principal, Government Arabic College II, Gombe.