By Halimatu Dan-Ali.
Monday, 14th October, 2024 was a particularly hard day for all of us belonging to the Alawa Clan of the Fulani and many among our closest associates.
I remember vividly it was around 11pm of that fateful day when we were all forced to woke up from sleep by our mother with tears in her face and discovered to us the shocking and bizarre news of an accident that involved Baba Zayyanu. (May Allah protect all of us from hearing such kind of very sad story that will forever remain deep in our hearts).
From the side of my father, however, i thought i could not understand what he felt when he was told about the untimely death of Baba Zayyanu because he is such kind of a person that is very hard to read or understand through his facial expression. In fact he has naturally mastered the hidden of a feeling be it positive or negative.
However, on that black night, all his efforts towards hidden a feeling of an emotion failed when i saw him sitting down on a floor very much like an orphan or to say the list like a begger his both eyes turned red.
No matter what position one reaches, the most important thing is to be kind, human, simple and generous because history is so rich with lessons.
Not only the family members, but all those who knew and associated with Baba Zayyanu were deeply saddened by his untimely passing when his staying with us was mostly needed. His death was a loss not only to us, but to the family of young Lawyers and Judicial System of Katsina State.
Beyond his professional achievements, Baba was a loving Family man whose main advise to children and younger ones like my humble self was to gain education.I remember vividly, on one Saturday morning, about a month before his passing, he came into our house wearing a black coat and a necktie like if he was either going or coming from a Court Room. He met me and my immediate senior Sister busy watching Television and immediately asked ” What are you watching there? Hope it’s Educative and not such kind of useless programmes that divert your attention from studies”.
He continued” You people should be extra careful, take your both Islamic and Modern Education very seriously and do not let this family down. If you inspire to be a Nurse, be a responsible one, and if a Doctor, Lawyer, Educationist or Journalist like your Biological father, face it very seriously and become a proud to the Family. Your Books should be your friends not a Television set”. He then gave us some money and left to the sitting room of our father.
Barrister didn’t live too long on earth, but, the legacies he left will forever remain a lesson to us and all others who had associated with him.
I heard my Father saying, shortly before he left Bauchi, late Baba Zayyanu had consulted with many of his associates members telling them he was already in a commercial vehicle from Bauchi to Kano and then he was to proceed to Daura where he was serving as Senior Magistrate.
A committed and highly dedicated Lawyer/Magistrate, he was widely admired for his professionalism, humility, general acceptability and cordial relationship with colleagues as well as other associates (young and old).
To many, he was not only a legal practitioner, but a mentor, guiding light and a strong pillar of support.
As we have today counted 365 Days of his passing, as Muslims, we also take the comfort in the knowledge that he has left a legacy worthy of emolation. He was invited by the Almighty Allah who surely loves him better than any of us.
I’ve vividly saw many people crying as they talk while offering their condolences. Rest in peace Baba Zayyanu, your spirit will continue to inspire us while your contributions to the development and prideness of our Family will forever remain.
In fact, he was a shining gift to the Family whose physical presence has gone forever, leaving the “Family in Tears”.
Halimatu Dan-Ali is a Student of Alqalam University, Katsina.
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