Death is no respecter of age, political stature or financial power; it strikes at the doors of kings as well as the huts of ordinary men without discrimination. No wonder death is metaphorically called the Grim Reaper! Therefore, no man or woman, however powerful or poor, can resist the cold hands of death. Such is the intriguing nature of death because of its power to render us powerless when it strikes.
The death recently of Alhaji Hussaini Garko, the former gubernatorial running mate of Alhaji Mohammed Abacha of the CPC, appears to have gone unnoticed by many. And the only reason is that he was not among the super-rich Nigerians whose funeral would have dominated the headlines. He died quietly of a liver-related medical problem and his only encounter with limelight was the time he served as Mohammed Abacha’s running mate. His burial at his home town attracted relative inattention from the media because he was not prominent enough to fit into the factors that make news. Yet, as John Donne, the great poet said, the death of every man diminishes him because he was a part of humanity. This is basically the reason one has to pay tribute to this relatively obscure politician who had enjoyed only transient moment of publicity when he served as Mohammed Abacha’s gubernatorial running mate.
While praising the simplicity and loyalty of the late retired immigration officer, it is important at this juncture to examine the nature of true friendship and brotherhood that go beyond political ties. The role of Mohammed Abacha in standing by his former running mate through thick and thin is rare among our politicians. While he was battling with his liver problem at the National Hospital, Mohammed Abacha took the responsibility for paying the expenses of his treatment from beginning to the end. In fact, Abacha was about flying him out for treatment abroad, when death came calling. No matter how much affection Mohammed had for his former running mate, it wouldn’t have stopped death when it came to take away those who love.
However, despite a man’s helplessness in the face of fate, the fellow-feeling Mohammed demonstrated towards a fellow politician was uncommon. Other cold-hearted politicians would have abandoned their former running mates to their fates when confronted with medical and other challenges. Maintaining loyalty, friendship and fraternity beyond elections is a rare feature of our political relationships. Steadfastness in support of a friend in need is the highest example of sincere relationship. It takes real compassion to spend big money on the health of others if there is no reward attached. By his gesture of compassion towards his late running mate, Mohammed Abacha has not only endeared himself to the people but also forced even his opponents to re-define their attitude and perception towards him.
At the funeral of the late Hussaini Garko, Mohammed Abacha was conspicuously present along with other fellow Muslims that came to condole the family. Family members of the deceased were openly overwhelmed by the affection shown to their son by Mohammed Abacha through his medical travails and in death. Such display of selfless brotherhood is not common among many politicians and rich people. We are in a society where a man can afford to ride in an N18million Jeep, but turns his back on a struggling patient who may need only one million naira to pay for a life-saving operation. Philanthropy has been Mohammed passion, which preceded his involvement with politics. Standing by his former running mate and offering succor has earned him more admirers and disarmed many of his critics.
If our society is founded on this level of selflessness, compassion would have been more firmly rooted on the hearts of our rich men. Unfortunately, many are unmoved by the hardship or affliction of others. Mohammed Abacha needs not feel guilty at all that his best efforts to support a friend didn’t ultimately save him. What matters is the symbolism and substance of his commitment to support his former running mate throughout his medical travails. In a society where social, family and fraternity bonds are weakening because of selfishness, rare men of genuine compassion like Mohammed Abacha must be praised so that others may emulate them. We are bound by our common humanity, despite the social distance that may exist among different people. Expressing solidarity with a fellow man while he was afflicted by a life-threatening medical problem is the shiniest example of humanity. Late Chief Moshood Abiola, a celebrated Nigerian philanthropist and the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election once said that his riches depended on the smiles he brought to the faces of others.
It is a fact that we don’t know our friends until we are in difficulty. And Mohammed Abacha had demonstrated that he is an angel of compassion by standing by the late Hussaini Garko, his former gubernatorial running mate while he was battling for his dear life. Genuine compassion doesn’t count the pennies. The former CPC gubernatorial candidate was ready to spend anything for the health of his demised running mate, including his plan to fly him abroad for urgent treatment. God, however, decided otherwise because every soul must taste death when He decides to take back that most precious gift to man – life! Recently, in far away London, Sudanese conjoined twins were successfully separated by medical specialists, in what was described as a rare success story for twins in such complex medical condition. The Sudanese parents of the twins couldn’t afford the cost of the operation and a British charity eventually footed the bill, bringing a bright future to the children and smiles to the parents.
Therefore, compassion, wherever it occurs, it strengthens the bond of humanity. I was in a crowd where people were emotionally pouring out prayers of abundant blessings to Mohammed Abacha for the remarkable efforts he made to save the life of his late running mate. While mourning the dead, we have an equal duty to nurture the seeds of compassion by praising privileged Nigerians like Mohammed Abacha who are moved to action by the plight of others. Possession of money is one thing, but the ability and will to spend it for the sake of humanity is not a common attribute of many well-to-do men and women. For not abandoning his former running mate in his difficult moment, Mohammed Abacha has proved himself a politician worthy of our respect. Indeed, society would have been better off if all politicians demonstrated selflessness and humanity. He is a role model who deserves to be celebrated so that it may be a challenge to others.
Yunusa wrote from 21, Cairo Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Death is no respecter of age, political stature or financial power; it strikes at the doors of kings as well as the huts of ordinary men without discrimination. No wonder death is metaphorically called the Grim Reaper! Therefore, no man or woman, however powerful or poor, can resist the cold hands of death. Such is the intriguing nature of death because of its power to render us powerless when it strikes.
The death recently of Alhaji Hussaini Garko, the former gubernatorial running mate of Alhaji Mohammed Abacha of the CPC, appears to have gone unnoticed by many. And the only reason is that he was not among the super-rich Nigerians whose funeral would have dominated the headlines. He died quietly of a liver-related medical problem and his only encounter with limelight was the time he served as Mohammed Abacha’s running mate. His burial at his home town attracted relative inattention from the media because he was not prominent enough to fit into the factors that make news. Yet, as John Donne, the great poet said, the death of every man diminishes him because he was a part of humanity. This is basically the reason one has to pay tribute to this relatively obscure politician who had enjoyed only transient moment of publicity when he served as Mohammed Abacha’s gubernatorial running mate.
While praising the simplicity and loyalty of the late retired immigration officer, it is important at this juncture to examine the nature of true friendship and brotherhood that go beyond political ties. The role of Mohammed Abacha in standing by his former running mate through thick and thin is rare among our politicians. While he was battling with his liver problem at the National Hospital, Mohammed Abacha took the responsibility for paying the expenses of his treatment from beginning to the end. In fact, Abacha was about flying him out for treatment abroad, when death came calling. No matter how much affection Mohammed had for his former running mate, it wouldn’t have stopped death when it came to take away those who love.
However, despite a man’s helplessness in the face of fate, the fellow-feeling Mohammed demonstrated towards a fellow politician was uncommon. Other cold-hearted politicians would have abandoned their former running mates to their fates when confronted with medical and other challenges. Maintaining loyalty, friendship and fraternity beyond elections is a rare feature of our political relationships. Steadfastness in support of a friend in need is the highest example of sincere relationship. It takes real compassion to spend big money on the health of others if there is no reward attached. By his gesture of compassion towards his late running mate, Mohammed Abacha has not only endeared himself to the people but also forced even his opponents to re-define their attitude and perception towards him.
At the funeral of the late Hussaini Garko, Mohammed Abacha was conspicuously present along with other fellow Muslims that came to condole the family. Family members of the deceased were openly overwhelmed by the affection shown to their son by Mohammed Abacha through his medical travails and in death. Such display of selfless brotherhood is not common among many politicians and rich people. We are in a society where a man can afford to ride in an N18million Jeep, but turns his back on a struggling patient who may need only one million naira to pay for a life-saving operation. Philanthropy has been Mohammed passion, which preceded his involvement with politics. Standing by his former running mate and offering succor has earned him more admirers and disarmed many of his critics.
If our society is founded on this level of selflessness, compassion would have been more firmly rooted on the hearts of our rich men. Unfortunately, many are unmoved by the hardship or affliction of others. Mohammed Abacha needs not feel guilty at all that his best efforts to support a friend didn’t ultimately save him. What matters is the symbolism and substance of his commitment to support his former running mate throughout his medical travails. In a society where social, family and fraternity bonds are weakening because of selfishness, rare men of genuine compassion like Mohammed Abacha must be praised so that others may emulate them. We are bound by our common humanity, despite the social distance that may exist among different people. Expressing solidarity with a fellow man while he was afflicted by a life-threatening medical problem is the shiniest example of humanity. Late Chief Moshood Abiola, a celebrated Nigerian philanthropist and the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election once said that his riches depended on the smiles he brought to the faces of others.
It is a fact that we don’t know our friends until we are in difficulty. And Mohammed Abacha had demonstrated that he is an angel of compassion by standing by the late Hussaini Garko, his former gubernatorial running mate while he was battling for his dear life. Genuine compassion doesn’t count the pennies. The former CPC gubernatorial candidate was ready to spend anything for the health of his demised running mate, including his plan to fly him abroad for urgent treatment. God, however, decided otherwise because every soul must taste death when He decides to take back that most precious gift to man – life! Recently, in far away London, Sudanese conjoined twins were successfully separated by medical specialists, in what was described as a rare success story for twins in such complex medical condition. The Sudanese parents of the twins couldn’t afford the cost of the operation and a British charity eventually footed the bill, bringing a bright future to the children and smiles to the parents.
Therefore, compassion, wherever it occurs, it strengthens the bond of humanity. I was in a crowd where people were emotionally pouring out prayers of abundant blessings to Mohammed Abacha for the remarkable efforts he made to save the life of his late running mate. While mourning the dead, we have an equal duty to nurture the seeds of compassion by praising privileged Nigerians like Mohammed Abacha who are moved to action by the plight of others. Possession of money is one thing, but the ability and will to spend it for the sake of humanity is not a common attribute of many well-to-do men and women. For not abandoning his former running mate in his difficult moment, Mohammed Abacha has proved himself a politician worthy of our respect. Indeed, society would have been better off if all politicians demonstrated selflessness and humanity. He is a role model who deserves to be celebrated so that it may be a challenge to others.
Yunusa wrote from 21, Cairo Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
