*Photo: Late Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji *
Some time around 2005, I went to visit the Sardauna(Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji) at his Wurno Road residence in Sokoto to deliver a message. He asked me to go upstairs to his bedroom and keep it. When I came down, he graciously invited me to join him for lunch at the dining table.
I am a son to him. My late step-father, Alkali Bello Ahmed Gidadawa of blessed memory, was his cousin. I am also his in-law, being married to one of the daughters of his brother, the late San Turakin Sokoto, Alhaji Bello Dogon Daji of blessed memory.
As we began to eat, the Sardauna told me this story:
Story 1: From the Woods Behind the Palace to the Palace Itself
On 1st October 1960, in London, he and his classmate, the late Dr. Mahmuf Tukur, went to Buckingham train station to catch a train to the Nigerian Independence ceremony.
They missed the train. The next one was the following morning. It started to rain. Cold, young, and far from home, they knocked on doors for help. But each time someone opened, and saw two Black boys, they were turned away. Some even called them dogs.
That night, they slept on a wooden bench behind the Queen’s Palace until morning.
Fast forward to 1989. The Sardauna returned to that same city, but this time as part of President Ibrahim Babangida’s delegation on a state visit to England. He was hosted by the Queen in that very palace. After the state dinner, he went to his room, drew the curtains, and looked out at the same grounds where he and his friend had once been chased away for being Black.
Now, he was there as a Queens guest and a recipient of the Queen’s highest honour — KBE.
He looked at me and said, “Bello… such is life.”
Story 2: The Gatekeeper and Time:
After returning from the UK as a graduate, the Sardauna was employed as an officer at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Lagos. Part of his duty was to collect all unattended files and newspapers from the office of the then Minister of Finance and deliver them to the Minister’s residence at night. He would return early the next morning to bring them back to the office.
At the Minister’s office in the Ministry, there was a particular gate used only by the Minister. A gateman manned it. He was very strict and would never allow the young Sardauna to pass through that gate.
Years passed. By the decree of Allah, that same gateman remained at that same gate doing same job and the young officer who was once denied entry was later appointed Minister of Finance!. It was same gateman that continue to open the gate for him as a Minister!
After telling me this, he looked at me and said:
Bello, don’t be afraid of anything in life. Everything has its own time. With determination and with God, everything is possible.
Those two stories have stayed with me. They taught me about patience, humility, dignity, and tawakkul in Allah.
May the gentle soul of Alhaji Sir Abubakar Alhaji KBE, Sardaunan Sokoto. rest in perfect peace.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings and reward him abundantly for his service to Nigeria.
Ameen.
I will another time tell the story he also narrated to me on what happened between him, President Babangida and Chief Akinyele the former information Minister during Babangida Administration at one of the federal Executive council meetings on how to eradicate poverty in Nigeria.
Bello Isah.
Shatiman Durbawa.
Writing from Madinatul Munawarah