In the early hours of Thursday last week, the Muslim community in Nigeria was thrown into the mourning of a foremost jurist and cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu. His death at 91 was broken by his daughter, Maryam Lemu on her Facebook post and later made officially by his son, Nurudeen Lemu. Before noon, the digital landscape was awash with tributes by many Nigerians from different walks of life whose lives the late Sheikh had touched in different ways.For the older generation, they eulogised the late Sheikh Lemu’s contributions to the peace, development and national cohesion as well as educational women advancement in Nigeria and the African continent. President Muhammadu Buhari in his condolence message to the family described late Sheikh Lemu as, “An outstanding scholar, jurist, teacher and author who was endowed with knowledge of encyclopedic proportion and whose death had created a vacuum in the country’s and Africa scholarship space. “Lemu was one of the moderating voices of Islam who used wisdom in spreading knowledge, thereby portraying the religion in the brightest light,” said Buhari in the condolence letter signed by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.
The late Lemu’s contributions to religious education and the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and understanding were immeasurable.
Governors of northern states also reeled out the contribution of the late jurist in nation-building and ensuring peaceful living among the populace. In the condolence message by its chairman and Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong, the governors said the late Islamic scholar made his mark as a model who fostered religious tolerance, cooperation and peaceful coexistence among people of diverse backgrounds.
They recognised that the Sheikh mediation efforts as chairman of a Presidential Committee on Post-Election Violence in 2011 assisted in the reconciliation and peace-building process that brought the country back to normalcy and further strengthened it unity. “His deep involvement in Islamic and humanitarian activities as well as advocacy for the rights of women had also contributed to the involvement of more women in the development of Nigeria, particularly the northern region.”People in the religious spheres eulogised the late jurist’s contribution to Islam propagation and strengthening of its legal system. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) through its president Prof Ishaq Akintola described late Sheikh as kind, transparent and dedicated to the cause of Islam and who through Islamic Education Trust (IET) and Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria he founded achieved immeasurable successes for the Islamic faith in the country and beyond. Sheikh Ahmed Lemu was born in December 21, 1926 in Lemu in the present Gbako local government area of Niger state. His father, Mallam Abubakar ( a qur’anic teacher) and mother, Hajiya Amina were from families of Islamic scholars in Nupe land. Like many children in northern Nigeria at that time, Late Sheikh Lemu received his early education at the Quranic School in 1932. He was one of the first pupils to be admitted in 1939 to Elementary School in Lemu, and later Intermediate School Lemu (now Government College) where he obtained Intermediate School Certificate in 1948. He later attended School of Shari’a Law (now the School of Arabic Studies) in Lemu where he obtained Middle Certificate in 1950 and High Teachers’ Certificate (Level Two) in Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, Shari’a Jurisdiction and General Education in 1952.He obtained the certificate of General Education (Advanced Level) in History, Arabic, Hausa and Persian Languages in 1961 and Bachelor’s Degree (Honors) in African and Oriental Studies in 1964 from London University’s School of African and Oriental Studies, United Kingdom.Late Sheikh Lemu began his career as a teacher of Arabic language, English language and Islamic studies at the Government Secondary School in Bida from 1953 to1960. In 1960, he became senior teacher of Arabic Language, Islamic Studies and Education, and supervisor at the School of Arabic Studies in Kano and later director of the school and deputy director of Government Secondary Education in 1965. He became dean of the Arabic Teachers’ College in 1966, senior inspector of education in 1970 and chief inspector of education for Sokoto state in North-west Nigeria from 1971 to 1973. He also served as technical director from 1974 to1975, and director of Educational Planning from 1975 to 1976 in the state. His efforts towards education, development and call to Islam are evident from his hundreds of lectures, seminars and classes. He authored several Islamic books and school references which fulfilled a significant part of the needs of the Nigerian and African communities and served as important resources for many Muslim generations, helping them to understand Islam and expand their knowledge of the Islamic creed.
Late Sheikh Lemu has also served in the judiciary. He was a Shar’ia judge at the Court of Appeals in the states of Sokoto and Niger from 1976 to 1977. He served as the Chief Shar’ia Judge at the Court of Appeals in Niger state from 1976 to 1991.The late jurist established a number of societies, schools and endowments such as the Islamic Endowments Society which became one the most important institutions collaborating with the Islamic Bank for Development in the field of study scholarships in Nigeria. The late Sheikh also played a significant role in defending Muslim women’s rights with his efforts culminating in the establishment of the Union of Muslim Women’s societies in Nigeria, promotion of peaceful co-existence and fight against sectarian violence in that country. He also established the Islamic Da’awa (Call) Institute to combat extremism.Late Sheikh Lemu was a member of several international Islamic organisations and recipient of numerous awards and prizes – national and global-for his service to Islam and humanity. They include: the Prize of Merit from the Government of Niger State in 1991; the Nigerian National Order by former Nigerian President Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1999 and former Nigerian President Obasanjo in 2001; Honorary Doctorate Degree from Uthman Danfodiyo University (1996); Honorary Doctorate Degree from Osogbo University (2011) and Honorary Doctorate Degree from Al-Hilal University (2013), and The King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam for this year 2014.Sheikh Lemu is described by many as a composed intellectual, a devout Muslim, and an advocate of moderation and open-mindedness. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him aljanat firdaus.
