Weekly Trust: Dr Sheikh Ahmed Lemu is not a strange name in contemporary Nigeria. Can we meet you sir?
Sheikh Ahmed Lemu: Let me correct an impression. Sheikh is part of my name. Neither is it a title nor a name given for my old age. My father named me Shehu. When I entered the Shari’ah Law School (now School for Arabic Studies) Kano in 1949 and became a student of intensive Arabic course, I discovered that Sheikh is the Arabic equivalence of Shehu. Due to youthful exuberance, I felt that if Sheikh is the correct Arabic pronunciation of Shehu; why shouldn’t I change from using Shehu? And since then, I started using Sheikh in place of Shehu.
And Sheikh has remained your name till date?
Yes, but I later realized the embarrassment I caused myself for using Sheikh. When I started having contact with Arab scholars in 1969 after the formation of the Islamic Education Trust (IET), I was not comfortable introducing myself as Sheikh each time I met with such scholars at meetings and conferences; because Sheikh to the Arabs is a title used for the learned or aged and I was neither.
Is Lemu your surname?
Lemu became my surname when I went to elementary school in 1939. In those colonial years of elementary education, pupils who bore the same name in the same school or class had the name of their respective towns or villages added to their proper names. Our teacher then, Malam Alawa Galadiman-Kogo, May Allah have mercy on him, added Lemu to my name; to differentiate between the Shehus. That’s how I became known as Shehu Ahmadu Lemu since I came from Lemu. The other Shehu Ahmadu was called Shehu Ahmadu Katcha because he came from Katcha.
What about Ahmad in your name?
My father named me Shehu Ahmadu. And so the two names go together. If you call me Shehu, Ahmad is implied.
Which Shehu Ahmadu were you named after?
Shehu Ahmadu Tijani. Parents do name their children after renowned scholars because of their knowledge, age or reputation; to seek their blessings.
Is he the popular Tijaniyyah scholar?
Yes, but my father did not add Tijani to it.
Then, what’s your father’s name?
His name is Malam Abubakar and my mother was Hajiya Amina. Both of them were from the house of malams (i.e. Islamic scholars). May Allah have mercy on them.
When were you born?
I was born in December 1929; 84 years ago.
Where?
I was born and brought up in Lemu. The first time I travelled out of Lemu to stay somewhere else for months was in 1944 when I went to the Middle School, Bida as a student.
Are you missing anything today from the rural life you lived in early childhood?
First and foremost, the weather in Lemu was very friendly and healthy. The early morning breeze was very unlike the polluted air in urban towns of today. You could hear the birds singing and I liked that natural environment. Two, the moral standard among rural dwellers was very high. People who lived in rural communities in those days did not know how to tell lies.
Why?
Because the moment an individual starts to tell lies while speaking, he would start stammering. And so, the rural populace before now was very honest, sincere and kind as well.
When do you see the other side of rural natives of Nupe?
You would find them cruel if you decide to have any hanky-panky affairs with girls or women. They could fight such illicit behaviors through poisoning or similar means. They had zero tolerance for immorality.
Is today’s Lemu different from the old one?
Yes. In those days, everybody knew everybody else to the extent that you could say this chicken is from the house of Malam so and so.
Do you have a traditional Nupe title?
Sincerely, I do not like the idea of wanting to appear big or important. I am not interested.
What would be your reaction if the Etsu Nupe decides to confer a traditional title on you?
If I would be seen to be rude for saying “No”, I will have no choice but to accept it, but I feel more comfortable to remain an ordinary citizen. Before I found myself in the judiciary, I wore ordinary kaftan and cap, but when I became a judge, I sometime had to remind myself silently that I was expected to wear babban riga and a turban. And so, I did not find it easy getting on with such cultural demands in the first few years of my career in the judiciary.
Tell us about your education?
Before primary or elementary education as it was then called, I attended Qur’anic school. My father in particular was my Qur’anic teacher. I was among the first batch of pupils admitted into the elementary school, in Lemu in 1939. I could not proceed immediately after my elementary education to the Middle School Bida. It was the only secondary school in Niger Province, now Niger State, which then included Zuru and excluded New Bussa. This restricted the number of pupils admitted at a time from one division or locality, because not more than two pupils no matter their intelligence were admitted from one school.
So, you had to wait after your four years of elementary education for another year?
Wait? It meant the end of education at that time, because there was no provision for a repeat of the final class in elementary school. Fortunately, our visiting teacher Alhaji Umaru Sheshi visited Lemu on inspection. He then observed that Shehu Lemu and Abubakar Lemu were too young to be left out of school. That was how the two of us were called back to repeat a year at the elementary school; spending five years instead of the normal four. The following year, I and Abubakar Lemu were the only two pupils admitted from the school into the Middle School Bida in 1944 to spend five years.
Can you remember your teachers at the Middle School Bida?
They include the late Emir of Lapai Alhaji Muhammadu Kobo; Alhaji Shuaibu Naibi; Alhaji Usman Isa; Alhaji Ibrahim Madaki Agaie; Alhaji Dauda Kutigi; Alhaji Bagudu Shettima (former chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission); May Allah have mercy on them all.
What about your school or class mates at the Middle School?
Those I can remember their names include Alhaji Shuaibu Barde Abuja; Mallam Dan-Azumi.
How did you come about a successful blend between Qur’anic and western education?
It was Allah’s acceptance of my father’s supplication. I was in my fourth year (Middle III) at the Bida Middle School when the headmaster wanted some of us to go to Kaduna College before it moved to Zaria and became Barewa College. I, Abubakar Lemu, and Suleiman Liman Agaie were among those selected to write the examination along with our juniors in Middle II for whom the examination was meant. Strangely enough, the result of the examination was not favourable to those of us from Middle III. When my father observed that I was unhappy about the result, he called me and said in Nupe, “Soko a ce nga le nga bya” meaning “It is below the dignity of Allah to say “Yes’ and thereafter say ‘No’. He exhorted me to be patient with what Allah will bring. My mother, who also noticed I was uncomfortable with the result of that examination, said to me “Egina! Soko ma eji dede a ni” meaning: “This boy/child of mine! Allah never does wrong”. And so I listened to their counsel and graduated from the Middle School after five years of education.
What’s your view about those who today detest western education which they classify as secular?
It is wrong to think in that manner, because the Prophet (SAW) said, “Search for knowledge even if it were in China,” without limiting it to the knowledge of Islam. Only harmful knowledge such as magic, witchcraft and soothsaying should be abhorred. There is nothing secular about knowledge as far as Allah is concerned. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 35:28 that it is those who have knowledge that fear Him. If you have watched the films of David Attenborough, you would have seen much of the psychology and behavior of insects, ants, monkeys confirming Allah’s assertion that birds and animals are communities like human beings. So, there is nothing secular about any knowledge that leads to increase in one’s faith. If anything, the more learned you are, the more God-fearing you become.
Where did you go from Bida Middle School?
I was admitted into the Shariah Law School, Kano. I felt happy and the admission couldn’t have come at a better time. I felt what I needed most after middle school was Islamic education which is what the Kano Law School was established for. There, all Arabic and Islamic courses were not only taught extensively but also through Arabic medium.
Was your going to the Shariah Law School a realization of your father’s wish?
Yes. My father kept reminding me that all he needed from me was knowledge. He was not keen in my looking for a job after my graduation from the Middle School. So, when I got admission into the Law School Kano, he was extremely happy. He said: “I thank God you didn’t pass the examination to Kaduna College the other time. Allah has given you a better choice today where you will specialize in Arabic, Islamic Studies and Shari’ah”. Because the curriculum of the school was functional, our spoken English was as good as those who attended Barewa College.
Who were your teachers at the Shariah Law School Kano?
They include Malam Nasiru Mustapha; Sheikh AbdulHameed from Sudan; Sheikh Awad also from Sudan who was equally the first Grand Qadi of Northern Nigeria; Alhaji Inuwa; Alhaji Umaru Sanda; and Alhaji Abubakar Gumi.
Can you remember your school or class mates at the Shari’ah School Kano?
Alhaji Gwarzo who became a Grand Qadi in Kano State; AbdulKadir S. Imam whom we used to call AbulKadir Okekere who was at one time Nigeria’s Ambassador to Egypt; B. B. Faruk from Kano; Adamu Minjibir (not the Adamu Minjibir who became a judge); and Haliru Tambuwwal.
Where did you go from the Shari’ah Law School?
I became a teacher under the Bida Native Authority in January 1953 at the Middle School Bida though its name had been changed to Provincial Secondary School before I became a teacher there. Some of my students while at the Provincial Secondary School include Generals Ibrahim Babangida (IBB); AbdulSalami; Inuwa Wushishi; Gado Nasko; Mamman Vatsa and a host of them. They were all good students, because of the way they obeyed school rules and regulations.
Having acquired education through public schools and having taught in public schools, what is your assessment of the education system in Nigeria today?
The crazy attitude the federal and state ministries of education coupled with the crazy attitude of educationists is responsible for the crisis in the education sector. In those days, school curriculum was not changed until after a minimum implementation period of not less than five years; before it was considered for a review. But now, the system is bedeviled with inconsistencies and policy summersault. We used to have Common Entrance Examination and someone just woke up one day and said it has been abolished. That’s how we woke up to hear that Teachers’ Grade II had been abolished. The so called educationists who studied in America or the UK would return to tell government to implement theories they had learnt without considering our own peculiarities. Granted that the Universal Primary Education (UPE) was introduced in good faith by the then Head of State (General Olusegun Obasanjo) who said money was not our problem but how to spend it; it yet had its consequences on the system. Instead of gradual implementation of the policy, everything was embarked upon at the same time without sufficient teachers for the scheme.
Did you leave the teaching job at Bida for another place?
Yes, I refused to forget what my father told me about searching for knowledge even after his demise on April 13, 1954. In August 1954, I left Nigeria for a Diploma course in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of London. Because of our background from the Shari’ah Law School, Kano, our course tutor David Cowan recommended to the university authority that the four of us who went for the course be allowed to do it in one year. His recommendation was approved and we did the course in one year. Those who came after us did not have that opportunity, because politics had started interfering with the standard of education at the Law School, Kano. The school started admitting candidates from primary schools instead of secondary schools.
Who were the other three who went for the course with you?
Late Alhaji Hamidu Alkali from Yola, late Alhaji Abubakar An-Nafati, and late Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Zaria.
Where did you go to after your diploma course in London?
I returned to continue teaching at the Provincial School Bida. I remained there until February 1960 when I was promoted to the rank of Education Officer and got transferred to the Shari’ah Law School, Kano as a teacher. In August 1960, I got admission in to the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London for my degree programme.
To study which course?
In compliance with my father’s advice to go for broader knowledge, other than Arabic and Islamic studies at the degree level, I opted for Bachelor of Arts degree in History. I just felt that having studied Arabic under intellectuals such as Professor Anderson at the University of London, what I needed more then was a broader knowledge in western education.
Who were your school mates from Nigeria during your undergraduate programme at the University of London?
Justice Mohammed Bello (former Chief Justice of Nigeria); Justice Mamman Nasir; Justice Abubakar Kawu from Ilorin; Justice Mu’azu Mohammed from Minna; Justice Uwais and Justice Mai-Damma from Sokoto.
Where did you go to after your degree programme in London?
After graduating in 1964, I returned to Nigeria in July of the same year. I was posted to Shariah Law School, Kano as a teacher and after a while I became the principal of the school. From there, I was posted to Ilorin in 1965 to work with Mr. John Macroft. In January 1966 after the first military coup in the country, there was a general re-shufflement in the civil service and I was posted to take over from Hamidu Alkali as principal at the Arabic Teachers’ College, Sokoto. I was there until 12 states were created including North-Western State. It was then I was moved to the headquarters of the Ministry of Education in the state as a Senior Area Inspector of Education. Later, I headed various divisions including primary and secondary education; tertiary education; teacher education; planning and development.
How did you get into the judiciary?
When 19 states including Niger were created in 1976, my name was forwarded for appointment into the Niger State Judiciary without my knowledge or consultation. When I didn’t see my name on the list of those going to Niger or staying back in Sokoto, I was told of the recommendation in respect of my appointment as a Shari’ah Court judge. I felt seriously disappointed, because I never liked the job at all.
Why didn’t you like the job?
When I told my father in 1948 that I was admitted into the Shairah Law School, he gave me a nod but added “I don’t want you to be a judge”. His fears emanated from what he knew at that time of the limited powers of judges whose decision could be over-ruled by emirs or district heads. He couldn’t see how I could escape such interferences if I became a judge.
How did you feel when eventually your appointment into the judiciary came?
I didn’t like it. I referred the matter to Allah. I was so sad that I decided to travel out of Nigeria for a while. I accompanied my wife, Aisha, to Britain where she was invited to present a paper. While in London, I received a telephone call one night from a friend who informed me of my appointment as a judge of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal in Niger State.
What happened when you assumed duty as a Shari’ah Court judge?
I was sad to discover that our colleagues in conventional courts were reducing the Shari’ah Court of Appeal to a super Area Court under the High Courts. We engaged ourselves until the constitution was amended to grant all that we were asking for under General Babangida’s administration. A circular conveying the message of the new status of Shari’ah Courts reached me on a Friday and I tendered my retirement letter the following Monday; taking effect from December 25, 1991.
Is there any remarkable case in your career as a judge you would like to mention?
Yes, there was one which involved a girl called Karimah, daughter of Alhaji Yakubu Paiko. One day, Karimah came to my chambers along with her brother and said she was at a logger-head with her father over a man he wanted her to marry. I advised her to try not to offend her parents. Shortly after that, I went on leave and before I resumed, she had taken her father to court. The case dragged from an Area Court to Upper Area Court and later to our place, the Shari’ah Court of Appeal. We told Karimah’s lawyer that he was not competent to represent his client in our court if he has no requisite knowledge of Shari’ah. Our court decided the case in favour of the father and Karimah appealed against the judgment at the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna.
How did the case end?
When I had the privilege of discussing the matter with the then CJN Justice Mohammed Bello, he said the worst the Court of Appeal could have done was to order a retrial of the case. The same view was expressed by the Conference of Northern Grand Qadis as well as the Conference of All Nigerian Judges.
What was the decision of the Court of Appeal?
It decided the case in favour of the girl; asserting that the girl had the right to marry other than whom her father wanted.
Who presided and delivered the judgment at the Court of Appeal?
I don’t want to go into that. Every case will be looked into by Allah on the Day of Judgment.
What was actually the problem between the girl and her father?
The girl was initially betrothed to a businessman whom she accepted to marry, but when the business man asked for the marriage to be arranged, she said she wanted to further her education and therefore, was no longer interested in the marriage. And that she has another person whom she desired to marry. The new suitor (a civil servant) has earlier approached Karimah, but turned down his offer. When the father could not convince Karimah for the man, he told him to go for Karimah’s sister, but the man refused and insisted on Karimah. When the businessman came for Karimah after the first suitor failed, she accepted his offer and she was betrothed to him. The father found it strange when Karimah wanted to withdraw from the businessman in favour of the first suitor she once rejected.
The businessman did not file an appeal at the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Federal High Court?
He said it made no sense to appeal against the judgment when there was no true love between him and the girl, Karimah.
What advice would you offer in this issue of young girls insisting on marrying other than the choice of their parents?
In the Maliki School of interpretation of Islamic law, the father has the prerogative to marry off his daughter to whomever he believes is most suitable. However, this is not a blanket approval. There are other things to be considered if there is a discord between a father and his daughter. That is why Maliki Law advises the father to consult his daughter in such matters.
Many Nigerians today have lost confidence in the judiciary. What do you think is responsible?
It is a manifestation of decline in God-consciousness; decline in moral standards and decline in good education. Corruption has not only eaten into the fabrics of the judiciary, but also exists in the executive and legislative arms of government. We made this clear in our report to Mr. President on post-election violence.
How do you feel that the recommendations of that report were not implemented by the Federal Government after carrying out such a painstaking work?
We all feel disappointed that nothing has been done. Culprits are getting bolder with greater sense of impunity and victims too are becoming more and more frustrated; waiting for opportunities to carry out reprisals. Mr. President and his advisers will be answerable to God tomorrow for their failures.
We recently heard (four days ago) of your appointment into the Amnesty Committee? Would you accept to serve on the committee?
Until this moment, I have not received any official communication to that effect from government. Neither was I consulted before the appointment was announced. I only read about it in the newspapers. Since I am not working for Mr. President but Nigeria, I will accept the offer.
What’s your comment about those members who have rejected the offer?
I cannot speak for them. Everyone is entitled to his opinion and action. As for me, I am ready to contribute to anything that will promote peace and stability in the country.
When did you retire from public service?
December 1991.
Why did you retire before your retirement age?
I thought I was not going to live long again; maybe not more than five years. But by Allah’s grace, it is over 20 years since I retired.
What makes you happy in retirement?
The fact that I don’t have to think about going late to office makes me happy. I do not have any cause to be sad over court cases or proceedings that present agonizing scenes. I am happy that I am out of the judiciary, which I never liked. I never applied to be a judge. I was actually forced.
You have spent 22 years in retirement. How much is your monthly pension?
I am satisfied with the federal share of my pension, but it is annoying that Niger State government pays me a monthly pension of N45,000 only after long years of service.
What would you say about our present crises in the country?
Selfishness among politicians, clerics and all stakeholders is a major cause of our present predicament. The brazen quest for huge sums of money that people do not actually need is also a factor. The hunt for power is another problem. These have led to decline in God-consciousness.
How do you view the lip-service paid by northern leaders to the legacies of Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello?
That is hypocrisy. If they had emulated the virtues of Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa who was at the center (Lagos) and other foremost leaders like Zik and Awolowo; the country would not have been as bad as it is today. Everybody today is after his pocket.
What do you have to say generally about the Boko Haram insurgency?
I encourage people to study Islam from a broad perspective. People should not practice Islam based on what this Sheikh or that Sheikh says, because some of the Shuyukh (scholars) are selfish. They also interpret the Qur’an in a way that could fetch them money. So, I encourage everyone to strive to acquire the authentic teachings of Islam. This will bring about God-consciousness and will equally make people think twice before committing any evil.
How and where did you meet Hajiya Aisha B. Lemu?
We met each other as students at the University of London. We discovered each other’s virtues and Allah brought us together. I returned to Nigeria in 1964. She was posted after her graduation to Nigeria as a technical assistant to the School for Arabic Studies, Sokoto. Our relationship continued until it ended in marriage.
Was she a Muslim when you met her in London?
In a way, she was. Someone gave her a copy of the translated Qur’an on the train. Reading through it, Allah guided her and she became convinced of the truth in it and she embraced Islam. I was not the one who converted Aisha to Islam. So, I cannot claim any credit for that. When she got to know that I specialized in Arabic and Islamic Studies before crossing to History, she asked me each time we met about various issues in Islam. And that’s how our relationship grew.
Did her father support her marriage to you?
Her mother had died before we got married, but you know British parents; her father didn’t care about whom she married. I have been visiting the family without any problem.
How many children are you blessed with?
With Aisha, I have one boy and one girl; and each of them has also been blessed with two boys from their marriage. Of course, I also have scores of children with my first wife whom I married 15 years before Aisha.
Why do we have more people with Islamic knowledge today and yet have more people transgressing bounds?
The way and manner Islam is taught today is part of the problem. The meaning, implication and application of topics in Islam do not get to the audience in clear terms. Some of those who memorized the Qur’an do not know its meaning; those who know the meaning do not ponder over its implications and application.
Do you have national honours?
My first National Honours was OON and later OFR. I also received Abdullahi Fodio Merit Award; a Merit Award from Kuwait; FOMWAN, NATAIS, and many others.
What’s your reaction to the awards given to those who do not deserve them?
That is a reflection of the level of deterioration of the Nigerian society. Morality has been thrown to the dogs. It is for this reason that the IET embarked upon an ethical reform programme.
Do you still drive car at 84?
No one drives me except if I am travelling out of Minna.
Were you able to build a house of your own while in service?
When we arrived in Minna from Sokoto, I applied for a plot and got it. My wife Aisha also applied and got a plot. Since we both had no enough money to develop the plots individually, I suggested to her that we jointly contribute to build the same type of house on each of the plots one after the other. When this was done, she retained her own and I moved into mine. A bag of cement at that time was N4 only. It took us four to five years to build the first house and similar number of years to build the second one.
Are you still living in that house?
No. the present governor of Niger State wanted to build a banquet hall and thus acquired the houses in the neighbourhood of the area. I was given an alternative place and Alhamdulillahi, I am satisfied with it.
Do you have a house in Abuja, Kaduna or Lagos?
What for? That is for crooks. I used to have a plot in Abuja when I was a Grand Qadi but could not develop it. It was this plot I sold and got money to rehabilitate the alternative house given to me by the Niger State government when my house was acquired to build a banquet hall.
What are your hobbies?
I can’t call them hobbies. They are reading and studying of the Qur’an; and doing dhikr. By dhikr, I mean meditation.
What day in your life do you love to remember?
I was extremely happy the day I got admission in to the Shari’ah Law School, Kano. It is at this school I acquired most of my knowledge about Islam.
What about a day you hate to remember?
There are two of such days in my life. The first was when I was at the Middle School Bida. One night, Abubakar Lemu asked me to accompany him to go and drop food for his mate. When we got there, I sat under the mango tree by the farm prefect’s room and waited for Abubakar Lemu. When he came out, we both moved to go and answer the roll-call. Shortly, two students ran after us and said we stole from the milk in the farm prefect’s room. After the roll-call, the farm prefect sent for me in particular. I was baffled when the farm prefect told me I was one of the thieves who used to steal from the milk in his room. He was in charge of the milk brought for students from Aliyu Makama’s farm. I didn’t know that students used to go and steal from the milk. What pained me, for which reason I will never forget the day, was when the prefect said, “I will not expose you to other students because you are Aliyu Lemu’s brother who is my friend provided you accept that you stole from the milk”.
Can you remember the name of the farm prefect or the two students that came to call you?
Certainly, I will never forget the names of the two chaps who ran after me and reported that I stole milk. Although I’ve forgotten the names of my classmates with whom I studied for five years, I will never forget their names but I don’t want to mention them.
Which is the second day you hate to remember and cannot forget?
It was in Sokoto when I received an anonymous letter which accused me that the wife of one of my neighbours was my mistress. I felt terribly bad and passed the letter to my wife, Aisha, whom I knew had some knowledge of detective stories. She applied her experience and was able to detect the source of the letter. To be accused of having an affair with the wife of your neighbour is really painful. More so, Aisha was still a bride at that time; and so for anybody to think that was the time for me to go after somebody’s wife is indeed painful. I will never forget these two days or occasions in my life.
Are you still engaged in the Islamic Circle lectures in Minna?
Yes, of course. We started it in 1978 and it still holds every Sunday in my house for men; and in Aisha’s house for women.
Is the Islamic Trust of Nigeria (ITN) in Zaria an extension of IET in Minna?
No. They are different organizations under separate certificates of incorporation. However, there is good understanding between us. The IET is 44 years now. I am a co-founder and one of our basic principles in the organization is strategic planning. We don’t do things because others as Muslims or Christians are doing it. We are capacity-builders on behalf of the nation and Muslim Ummah.
What is your wish for IET?
To leave behind an organization and a people who will continue to propagate the true teachings of Islam even after our death.
How do you fund IET activities?
Through Zakat received from individuals and organizations.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I wake up every day to thank Allah and improve upon my relationship with Him. Whatever people care to remember about me after death is their business. I never do anything to be remembered for it.
