Whenever history details the heroes of our state, there is unparalleled doubt that A.A Haruna would be detailed as the most generous and honest philanthropist to have ever willed his wealth towards community service and towards the development of Gombe State.
Even though it is rumoured that, since the creation of Gombe State, no one has lived a life as exemplary as A.A. Haruna’s, the projects he took on during his life are a testament that this isn’t a rumour.
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A.A. Haruna died on September 7, 2020 and upon his death, hordes of people who have dined with him, benefited from his generous acts and/or heard of his kind doings towards the betterment of the society, mourned his death by sending him salutations and prayers.
His was a life full of humility and generosity and the breadth of his generosity was so wide that even after his death, the entire state praised his good acts and revered him as if he were alive.
To many, his death might have connoted the death of a legend, a hero, but to me, his death is the loss of the only person who could stand as a grandfather to me, it’s the loss of someone personal, someone from my household.
He was a bosom friend of my late biological grandfather and now, death has taken the person who filled that space for me.
When my grandfather was alive, he had no other friend as intimate as A.A. Haruna, fondly called ‘Kawu’, and this was because of his love for knowledge among other virtues.
I was my grandfather’s favourite grandchild, so, I witnessed their conversations and interactions firsthand.
Kawu was a junior brother to my grandfather’s friend, Alhaji Ahmadu.
However, when my grandfather noticed his passion for religious acts, he befriended him, and the friendship fostered such that Kawu was the one who gave out my mother in marriage.
So, the death is personal, to me.
A lot of people can attest to his love for reading the Qur’an. Many of those who came to know of his philanthropic acts after his death only know a tip of the iceberg of his generosity.
Kawu lived a life of selfless service to humanity; no day would tick away without him stretching his hands of kindness to others.
He would frequently visit hospitals to check on patients and their families.
Anytime we needed to travel outside the state, he would solely bore the costs of transportation and accommodation, among other expenses.
Few weeks before his death, he met with a man who rarely ever left the mosque from dawn to sunset.
Kawu queried the man and he explained that his problem was the absence of funds for his study.
Kawu gifted the man N500,000 to boost his business and get back to his study.
He had a water tanker that would patrol streets and give water to people free of charge.
Whenever there was inflation in the price of goods, A.A. Haruna would sell his own goods at subsidized amounts.
He would, from time to time, slaughter cows and gift it to people to eradicate hunger in the community.
His unwavering love for knowledge is reflected in the school be built.
While other wealthy men were overly materialistic in their possessions, his possession was the smile on the faces of people he had helped and families he had lifted.
His prayer, for a long time, had been to die while fasting.
He had always been prepared for death.
So, he bought a cloak he would want to be shrouded in when he dies.
His prayer was accepted as he died after saying the “Declaration of Faith,” and at a time when people rained prayers and salutations upon him.
For many people, it’s the loss of a philanthropist, the champion of goodness and good acts, fine exemplar and a beacon of virtues, but for me, it’s the loss of a grandfather whose life has inspired me to live a decent and meaningful life.
We’ll miss you, Grandpa. Who’ll emulate you now that you are gone, the source of joy and happiness to many?
May Allah be merciful to you!
Dr. Kabiru Usman is the new DG of Gombe Geographic Information Systems
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