'The death of an old man is like burning a library. It takes generation to get a semblance of replacement - A Malian Proverb'

Thursday 19 June, 2009 mark the 28th year anniversary of the passage of the legendary editor, author and statesman whose work will continue to be a source of reference no matter how less the nation chose to immortalise him. This write up is a mark of tribute to a man who was not only a symbol of selflessness, but also an advocate of truth, frankness, creativity and humility. 

He was born in Kagara in 1911to the family of Mallam Shehu Usmanu(the then chief Imam of Kagara town) and malama Aishetu Maisaje(daughter of Chief Imam of Bobi town). He started from elementary 3 instead of 1 and work briefly as a clerk before proceeding to Katsina Training College in 1927 and graduated in 1932 with brilliant colours. He joined the Katsina Native Authority as an English teacher. It is on record that he taught diligently and spends most of his time with the pupils or making lessons notes in the library. He was also at the same time engage by the Katsina Emirate Council to assist in translation of court cases from Hausa to English and Arabic. Imam participated in book writing competition in Hausa organised by the Education department of Northern Nigerian 1935. His book titled “Ruwan Bagaja”was among the top five winning book. This feat and also Imam’s obvious writing skills secured him a place at the famous Zaria Literature Bureau. While at the Bureau, he published “Magana Jarice” (1937) and “Karamin sani kukumi Ne (1938). With the publication of this book, Imam’s name became a household in Northern Nigeria. This reputation earned him the editor of the first regional Hausa newspaper, Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo. He edited the newspapers from 1939 to 1951. The paper soon became a platform for fighting what he regarded as the “three evils of Ignorance, Indolence and Injustice. To Imam, nothing changes an individual in this world than education. He advocated for both formal and non-formal education. In an address to West African students in UK in 1943, Imam encouraged them to put in their best in their studies. He further informed them that “schools are the light to show the road of progress in each country. All the things we are struggling now to get are for our own benefit and that of our country”. He saw school as not an end to itself, but a means to an end, that end being the glorious dawn for a better tomorrow. He is however of the view that in given people education, schools must be built on a sound foundation. Imam is also of the view that it is the Northerners and Southerners who created differences among themselves. He took a swipe on the style southern press usually report events in their papers regarding northerners. It is not uncommon to see such headlines like “Hausa man stabs country man with a knife”, Hausa man eats too much raw cassava and dies...”, “Two Hausa men locked in a fight and each loses a hand...”, for instance when Muhammad Dikko gained first class division in chemistry in Ibadan University college BSc Examination, the headline was “A Mallam Gains First Class Degree”. Also when the then Federal Government embarked upon a policy of encouraging civil servants from all over the country to go to Lagos and build a truly federal civil service, one of the captions was “The Mallams Are Coming”. Imam through his column discourages such style of reporting. He had a brief stint in politics when he represented Zazzau Emirate at the National Assembly. Other books written by Imam include Tafiya mabudin ilmi(1944), Sayidina Abubakar(1955),Tarihin Annabi Kammalalle(1957), Haji Mabudin Ilmi(1959), Hausa Bakwai(1959), Tarihin Annabi Da Halifofi(1980) and also Tarihin Musulunchi(1980), Tambaya Goma Amsa Goma(1980). Books he co-authored include Ikon Allah (vol. 1-5) with Dr. R M East (1949) and Auren Turawa(1949) and Auren Zobe(1974) with Mr Sherwood Smith. He translated Diyaul Hukkam by Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio as Hasken Mahukunta(1966).

Imam was a source of inspiration to most others. He encourages other co-workers at Gaskiya Corporation in writing skills. Muhammadu Isa Agaie(my father), who also work with Gaskiya corporation while Imam was the editor was among those who also benefitted immensely from Imam’s magnanimity. Through Imam’s encouragement he had several of his articles published in Nigerian dailies including a book titled “Nupe Customary Marriage”. Imam was appointed chairman of the Northern Nigerian Public Service in 1961. In 1968, Imam was honoured by the University of Ibadan with a honourary doctorate degree of law (LLD) for his contributions. He was also the pioneer chairman of North Central Public Complaint Commission, Chairman Interim Common Services Agency of Northern Nigeria (ICSA) and also a director of New Nigerian, among others. During a memorial lecture titled “Abubakar Imam: A Prodigious Talent for Today’s Reference” organised in his honour by Gamji Members’ Association in March, 2005, the two guest speakers Mallam Mohammed Haruna and Dr. Ibrahim Malumfashi pay glowing tributes to Imam’s life and times. Mohammed Haruna in his paper pointed out that late Imam was the only Nigerian journalist and the first Nigerian novelist to have won the Nigerian National Merit Award. He also noted that “If Nigeria has suffered retrogression since independence in almost all aspects of life- economics, politics and social; it is mainly because our leaders have behaved less and less like the Abubakar Imams of this world”. He concluded his paper by suggesting that Abubakar Imam Memoirs written by his in-law, late Alhaji Abdulrahman Mora should be made compulsory reading for all journalism schools not only in the North but in the whole country. On his part, Dr. Ibrahim Malumfashi who appears to be passionate about Imam and his works, describe the writer as one who belongs to the class of few Northerners that served this country with their sweat and blood, not for what they were to get, but for posterity to sit, wine and dine over their labour. His eulogy ran thus “Imam was not just a writer, but also an advocate of truth, candour, religious reawakening, macro and micro nationalism”. He went further to say “Imam taught through his actions and writing how the society should be positioned and how it should look like after his demise”. The Chairman of the occasion, Justice Mamman Nasir(Galadiman Katsina) educate the audience on the legendary Imam. The Royal father of the day, HRH Mallam Muhammad Awwal Ibrahim (Sarkin Zazzau of Suleja) describes Imam as an exemplary leader whose works should be a source of inspiration to all. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, in a goodwill message to the organisers describes Imam as a leader whose good and extraordinary character cannot be fully described with a pen. He describes Imam as one who has made tremendous contributions to the educational development of Northern Nigerian in particular and the promotion of Hausa language all over the world. Other tribute messages received on the memorial lecture on the late writer includes those of Gen. Abdulsalami A Abubakar GCFR, Dr. Muazu B Aliyu OON, Dr. Ghali U Na’abba, Andoma of Doma, Alh A Akwei Doma OON, Hon. A Ejiga and Abdulhameed Danladi. Late Dr Yahaya Gusau CFR in his foreword to the book “Abubakar Imam memoirs” states that ‘Imam had spent a great part of his leisure time teaching and demonstrating to others how to lead a decent and honest life. He was all the time emphasising that people should endeavour to earn their living by their own labour and that their earning should be spent wisely’. Presently Gamji Memorial Club of Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru Chapter as its contribution towards immortalising the legendary writer is constructing a garden in his honour in the school. According to the club’s adviser, Engr. Mohammed H Muye, the garden when completed will have each of Imams work represented by a structure. Already the Chairman of Wushishi Local Government has made a personal pledge to build a hut in the garden. This is an initiative that deserve the support of our leaders particularly those who shared the view that past leaders like Imam needs to be immortalised and their deeds inculcated in our youths. 

Abubakar Imam lived an exemplary life, a life which should be a model for today’s leaders. It is thus pertinent that we take a look at the lessons which this generation, and indeed future generations can inculcate from the life of Imam. He led a purposeful good life, full of remarkable achievements and good deeds. One could not agree less with Dr. Ibrahim Malumfashi’s conclusion that “Imam lived a life of asceticism so that others may enjoy”. May the soul of late Dr. Abubakar Imam continue to rest in perfect peace. May his final abode be in aljanna Firdausi (Amin).

Abdullahi Bala Isa, Gamji Members Association 

(get2balaisa@yahoo.com)

PS: Article published in selected Dailies in June, 2009