The sentence “Kullu nafsin za’ikatul ma’ut”, meaning every soul must taste death, appears twice in the glorious Qura’an in the verse Al-imran 184 and Ankabut 57, respectively. This justifies the intensity of certainty of death to every soul on earth.
You don’t need to convince anyone about the certainty of death, regardless of faith or knowledge. Everyone believes in death which is inevitable and sacrosanct which no human can deny its occurrence once the time is due.
Throughout the years of experience I garnered on the writing skills, this is the first time I am writing a tribute on any personality. I was shocked when I heard the demise of a gentle and humble academic with sound islamic orientation that courtesy demands me to put an ink in extending my heartfelt condolences not only to his immediate family members, colleagues and associate, but also to the entire community of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and the good people of Nigeria at large.
I resorted to go for the piece instead of paying the usual condolence visit to console with the heirs of the deceased because of two fundamental reasons which according to my belief is the best alternative for a person with soft hearted mind. One of which is the fear of indulging into crying with tears in the midst of large turn out of people who gathered during the normal three days mourning session while the tribute may serve as a life time record so long it remains in the archive of the global networking system (internet) for history to be traced.
Far back, when the author of this tribute was secretary of the National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS) in 2003/2004 session, a 300 level student of Quantity Surveying Programme in the School of Environment, the period my personal encounter with the lecturer in the university who always borrows his listening ears to the public yielded a fruitful result with the late professor of veterinary medicine, Ladan Shehu in his capacity as the then Director School of Remedial Studies.
Such a distinguished and unique character of assisting others as exhibited by Prof. Ladan Shehu will forever continue to reflect in my memories for securing admission to a family friend (girl) I was proposing to marry who I never dreamt losing at the end of the road. With just a minimal qualification I followed so many failed channels, including a relative, an uncle of mine, to be precise who did all within his powers to secure her admission into the basic university programme.
It was a great Friday morning when I confronted the giant and neatly dressed professor shortly after he dropped from his 504 official Peugeot wagon heading to his office under the new lecture theater (NLT). I Introduced myself and laid my request where the professor instantly collected the credentials of my applicant and responded by saying “I am not promising but check the notice board on Monday to see if she is lucky to be among the supplementary list”. Gladly, she happened to be among the successful admitted students.
May Allah accept all the good deeds of the late Professor Ladan Shehu and grant him eternal rest with the highest paradise of aljanatul firdaus.Ameen!
Adamu Yalwa Gabi, Bauchi
[email protected] or +2348033990884
