That surreal feeling still lingers on, that this man who was my idol, my father, protector, friend, co-conspirator and so much more was gone and that I would never get to see him again. Anyone who knows us from back in the 80s knows what impact my father Malam Haruna Mohammed had on my life, as well as the life of anyone he touched.
Born on November 22, 1946, my dad lived to be only 44years of age before he answered his calling to the great beyond. I had him for 10 of the most wonderful years of my life. As we mark 20 years of his passing, I feel there could not be a more fitting time to pay tribute to the man I knew simply as Daddy.
My daddy was a journalist by profession, and my fondest memories are of watching him read the news on NTA Kano. In all honesty, the station house was my personal play ground. I followed him to work every chance I got, watched him interact with his colleagues and staff. Many a time I sat at his foot and watched this great man who was in my eyes, larger than life, read the news live on camera with no fears or inhibitions. I like to believe that I got my confidence for public speaking and debating which I did much during my school years from watching him.
He always had a smile and a kind word for anyone he met. I remember towards his final days when he had become too weak to go to work, a group of messengers, drivers and security guards came to visit him. They all knelt or sat on the ground and my dad immediately jumped up from his lying position to a sitting one and said to them that the chairs in the house were for guests to sit on when they came, he is not a god that they should kneel before nor is he superior in any way that they cannot sit on the same chairs as he does. So anyone who cannot sit in a chair should please leave his house because he does not tolerate such behavior.
That memory remains vivid in me for eternity, because at that moment he instilled in me that everyone truly is equal, irrespective of wealth, position or anything else for that matter. To this day, I behave the same way to any and all who cross my path.
To my mother he was a wonderful husband who supported unquestionably. Her best friend, confidant and perhaps soul mate, for to this day he still remains irreplaceable to her, as such I believe he was her one true love.
To his colleagues and staff, I believe my dad was more than just a boss, he was a friend, brother and to some a father figure also.
When he died he was with Bank of The North as its Senior Manager, Public Relations and strange as it may seem, quite a number of his staff asked to be transferred after his death because they felt they could not continue work in the department without him there. That is the kind of great person Haruna Mohammed was.
I don’t believe am bragging when I say that I am yet to be in a circumstance or situation where I am recognized as Haruna Mohammed’s daughter and it affected me negatively.
My father though was only with me for a short time, he laid a solid foundation on which our family was built. For me personally it started from those days of watching him read the news, to him putting me in front of the camera to partake in programes such as KIDI VISION 101, building in me confidence and self trust and the belief that I could achieve anything I wanted to in life. To watch him change field to bank’s public relations make me develop a passion for being involved with people. As a result, I’ve taken up a career in customer care, with the hopes of eventually joining mainstream public relations sector in future.
My dad had many accolades under his belt and was a member of many institutions and organizations. At the time he died, he was actually the Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Kano chapter. Not bad at all for a young man whose father was a farmer and mother a housewife. Just reinforcing all the more in me that as he did, I too can achieve.
But of all these, his most important position and accolade was that of loving and devoted husband and father, which he held and performed proudly, flawlessly and to the very best of his ability till the end of his life. It is because of this that today, 20 long years after I am honoured and privileged to be writing and paying tribute to this wonderful man who was my father Malam Haruna Mohammed.
And with that I close off with a few words that best put into context the feelings of our little family of , my mother, brother and muself.
Twenty long years since the last time we heard your voice, saw your smile or held your hand in togetherness, we wish Heaven had a phone so we could hear your voice again. There are moments and times we can’t stop thinking of your tender love and care. We remember you today our priceless jewel, how we wish God could turn back the hands of time so we could see you once again. We thought of you yesterday and days before that too, we never stop thinking of the impact you made in our world. In silence we often think of you, we can’t stop calling your name, all we have now are memories and pictures inside frames. Your memory is a keepsake from which we will never part. God has you in His Arms, we have you in our hearts.
May your gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace and may Allah (SAW) continue to grant you abode in Aljannatu Firdaus. Amin
We miss you DADDY…
Amina writes from Kano
