On that fateful Saturday night of September 8th, 2018, I was already asleep recuperating from ailment, I suddenly wake up around 10:30 pm and grab my phone, I missed several calls and my instinct start telling me something terrible might have happened. I overheard my brother, speaking on phone, "Malam Halilu had an accident along Katsina...we are not sure whether he is still alive..." Oh my God i was shocked! I log in to Facebook and the first thing that greet my eyes was a post made by my brother Habib, which confirm my fear that Malam has indeed passed away. That is the time i understand the reason for the missed calls - they all want to confirm whether the rumour going round the town is true. To him we came and to him we shall return.
It was the longest night I've ever had. I was so terrified and couldn't reply the calls I missed. Life will never be the same again. Whenever I close my eyes I see Malam with that adorable smile on his face. This force me to go out around 12 o'clock and zawiyyah was already filled with people, shedding tears - mourning the sudden death of such a great man. My father ordered us to go back home, the funeral is going to hold tomorrow after zuhr prayer.
Malam died enroute Katsina from Abuja after attending the wedding ceremony of Shema's daughter. He supposed to stay for another day but excused himself to leave for Katsina. He's so eager to go back home not knowing he is going to meet his terminal end. He stopped at Zaria to fix a tyre that is faulty. He called Nasiru who together with my brother Habib, were in Zaria to represent Malam in another wedding Fatiha. He asked Nasiru to bring his PVC and PDP membership card which he left at Bakori - he is due to attend screening at PDP office in Katsina. They advised him to use spare tyre to reach Katsina but Malam would not agree, he has no trust for spare tyres and therefore asked them to buy him a new tyre at a nearby shop. As they bade farewell, Malam asked them three times whether they have any problem (as it was his habit), they replied with No. They never knew it was their last meeting. His car collided with Dangote truck at Dabaibayawa, a village few miles to Katsina city. The trio of Malam; his wife Aisha and his driver Mannir died in the accident.
As we are waiting for his corpse and that of his wife (his driver was buried in Katsina) to arrive Bakori, Zawiyyah was already filled with people coming for the funeral prayer."Throughout my life, this is by far the largest funeral I've ever witnessed" said a 70 year old man.
When the lifeless body of Malam and that of his wife arrived Bakori for the funeral rites, someone with tears coming down from his eyes, said "My mother is due to have operation and Malam is the one to pay the bills and now he is no more. I am afraid she's going to die". As the lifeless body of Malam is about to be taken to the graveyard, one Christian woman screamed, "Oh God! Why do you take away good people and leave us with bad ones!" This shows how he's loved by even non- Muslims. Another man said, Malam promise to take me to hospital on Monday and now he is dead.
Malam epitomizes the life of a true servant of God. His compassion, humbleness and unselfish heart is rare. He made it a duty upon himself to help those in need. He once advice me ''Malam Dogo'' as he often called me "I can't fathom seeing the needy without helping them. If a man come to you with a genuine request be it food or health related issues, endeavor to help him. If he request for ten thousand Naira and you don't have such amount, give him at least one thousand Naira and pray for him. He will be happy and Allah will be pleased with you. Never send away the needy, for he may die because of your refusal to help him". Only god knows the number of people that Malam pay for their medical bills.
He hardly discriminate base on religion or sectarian differences despite being the son of a Sufi scholar. As a Local council chairman, he upgraded the local Secretariat's mosque. The Tijjaniyyah applied to be conducting Friday prayers there. Although, they followed all the due process, Malam, to be fair to the other sects, politely rejected the offer.
Malam invested heavily in the course of religion. When it comes to Qur'anic recitation competition, he is at the forefront. There was a time he camped competitors that will represent Bakori in his house and employ the services of experts to teach them various techniques on how to win the competition. He give donations to various Islamic schools and also built an Islamic school for married women which is run by his wife, Hajiya Laure. This, in addition to the tacit support he gave to various associations such as Da'awah committee, Matan Tijjaniyya and numerous others.
As chairman of Bakori LGA, Malam gave attention to healthcare by upgrading the status of Bakori Primary Health Care to Comprehensive Health care with a view to making it a General Hospital. He expanded the hospital and ensure that it has enough manpower by employing additional staff with five medical doctors attending to patents. When his daughter fell sick she was admitted there. He too was once admitted in the hospital. This gave confidence to people to the extent that people from faraway Matazu patronizes the hospital. Malam literally made the hospital his second office and do visit it at any time be it during the day or in the middle of the night. This increase punctuality among staff.
He's referred to as 'Malam' not for nothing.The Son of Sheikh Yahaya ibn Jibril, is knowledgeable in Islamic and western sense and was one time a school teacher. Malam served as a councillor under PRP. He was once the state organizing Secretary of PDP, he held the position of local council chairman; State Acting chairman of PDP and later S.A on Special duties to Governor Shema. Malam has a deep rooted and fiercely loyal political structure that span the nooks and crannies of Bakori. He's a brilliant strategist and public orator. Malam died just four days after he purchased nomination and expression of interest forms to contest as member House Representatives for Bakori/Danja federal constituency. He died when preparations for primary election is on top gear. PDP and the good people of Katsina will surely miss him. The kind of life he lived made his death such a monumental loss and was felt by almost everybody.
We lost a great pillar.
Oh Allah have mercy on your servant.
May Aljannah be his final abode. Amin.
Adieu Baba Halilu.
By Sadiq Tijjani Inuwa
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