Uba Chiroma: Farewell to a humble servant

Before that faithful day, the late Makama of Ringim emirate in Jigawa State was a humble servant of God and a dedicated servant to his people and     community. As we stood at the back of the chief imam of Ringim central mosque to offer the funeral prayer on the late Makama alongside hundred of sympathisers from all walks of life, I took a glance of his lifeless body neatly covered in whites as directed by Allah, and quickly memorised the following epitaph; here lies the body of an elder statesman, a great farmer, an administrator par excellence, a sincere and prudent business man, a polite politician, a modest traditional leader, a responsible and exemplary father, grandfather and great grandfather , a teacher of simplicity, a  forthright and fearless community leader and above all, a humble servant of the Almighty Allah. As the Chief Imam pronounced the first Allahu-akhbar (Allah is great) which signifies the beginning of the five minutes prayer offered for the dead before final interment, I reaffirm my belief in the greatness and oneness of God and concluded my epitaph by remembering one of the verses in the glorious Qur’an were Allah says “for every soul (be it that of a human being, angel, jinn, plant and animal) shall taste death”.
The life and times of the late Makaman Ringim was a documentation of simplicity, hard work and modesty. From the scratch, he exemplified himself as a role model to his siblings. Being the first child in the family, he brought to bear their responsibilities and championed the course of their survival into a multifaceted society that was witnessing the integration of religion and traditional ways of life on one hand and modernism headed by western education on the other. 
He became alert to the future demands and outcome of such integration without compromising the former as the purest and truthful way to salvation, and quickly provided a soft landing that today became a source of pride and joy to the families. However, to turn his dreams into indisputable reality, Makama had to venture into various forms of professions ranging from trading to farming, politics and later a contractor. In all these, Makama demonstrated high level of determination and decorum which later turned to unquestionable excellence.
The late Makama will also be remembered as once an active politician who guided and championed the stabilisation and eventual success of his party the NPC. At his youthful age, he was said to have controlled the youth wing of that party in the locality with zeal, enthusiasm  and sincerity of purpose.  His kind of political participation was borne out of a committed ideology which focused on human progress and societal development, this is obvious considering the fact that, up to the time of his demise, he never had a political grudge with anyone in the localility where he was born, lived and died in. To him, politics is not a do or die affair; therefore, political differences can best be resolved through scientific reasoning, dialogue and negotiations.
On his services to humanity, the late Makama was a household name in Ringim   and its environs as a renown traditional rheumatologist, dislocation and fracture consultant. He used that noble profession which he inherited from his late father to bring succour to ailing members of the society without demanding for a penny. The benefit it brought to the society was immeasurable considering the scarcity of and the difficulty in accessing hospitals at that time, especially for the rural dwellers.
He treats all members of the community with respect irrespective of one’s social status. As the younger ones go down to great him as he sat under the tree planted in front of his house, he equally bow with all sense of humility to answer their greetings and return same to them. This gesture which is rear these days endears him to all. In spite of the declining nature in moral decay, he treats all children in the neighbourhood as his by giving them the necessary moral guidance and support they might require to better their lives. No wonder, that, the members of his household grew up to be perfect ambassadors of his exemplary teachings.
His human relation can simply be described as simple. My beloved mother remembered with pain her last visit to Makama while on admission at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) precisely, two days before his death.  Though, he was psychologically and emotionally fragile as a result of his deteriorated condition, the late Makama was apt to recognise her presence. He couldn’t utter a word, she said, but he was strong enough to humbly give her the royal salute with his hands (she being a princess). This singular last minutes action of his signifies to a large extent his simplicity and humility as well as the respect he had for the traditional institution in particular, and to the royals in general.
The late Makama was a close associate and confident of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ringim, Alhaji Sayyadi Abubakar Mahmud, however, it was in recognition of his sterling contribution to the overall growth of Ringim town that, the emir turbaned him with the prestigious title of Makaman Ringim when the emirate was formed following the creation of Jigawa State by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida in August, 1987. He was the first to hold that title in the emirate. The news of his turbaning to that exalted position in the palace was happily endorsed and supported by the people of the emirate. Makama grasp the task which lies before him as a one of the senior title holder, a councillor in the emir’s chamber and a king maker, without any hesitation he brought his wealth of experience into the council and through his numerous advices to the council, loyalty to the emir and dedication to duty, Ringim emirate is today standing tall to the seeing and recognition of all.
On behalf of the sons, daughters, grand children, and great grand children of the late Alhaji Shuaibu Rabo, I wish to humbly extend our heartfelt condolences to His Royal Highness the Emir of Ringim Alhaji Sayyadi Abubakar Mahmud, for the lost of a loyal friend, an adviser, a confident and a dedicated assistant, to the entire people of Ringim emirate for the lost of an elder statesman and a community leader, to his siblings, children and the entire members of his family for the lost of a sincere, loving, kind and committed brother, father and a friend.
Although, his body is no more to be seen, his voice no more to be heard, but, his memories and image will continue to remain intact and visible till the end of time. As we bid final farewell to this humble servant of Allah, we pray that, Allah accepts his and our good deeds, forgive his and our errors and make paradise to be his and our final resting place….amin.
Mustapha writes from Lagos