By Junaidu Sambo Wali
I first came to know the late Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji during my childhood. At the time, I often caught glimpses of him at his family house on Diori Hammani Road in the Kofar Marke area of Sokoto North Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
Whenever I left our home in Gidadawa Quarters, which was only a few metres from the residence of the late Sardauna’s father, I always looked forward to passing by his house whenever I heard he was in town. I admired him greatly because of his generosity, charisma, and the respect he commanded.
The late octogenarian also regularly visited the then Waziri of Sokoto, the late Dr. Junaidu, at Gidadawa whenever he came to Sokoto, as a mark of respect for the traditional institution.
As children, it became a cherished tradition for us to gather at the Waziri’s Palace to witness his arrival. We were always delighted to have a man of such integrity in our midst.
As a journalist, I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing him on three different occasions at his residence on Wurno Road.
My first visit came when my former General Manager at The Path Newspaper, Ibrahim Gidado Sokoto, assigned me to interview him. It was a Friday after the Jumu’ah prayer. When I arrived, he was with the renowned Sokoto businessman, the late Tsoho Dan Amale. After his guest departed, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji graciously granted me a full-page interview.
I still remember the headline vividly:
“Safiya Hussaini Tungar Tudu Not a Threat to Islam.”
The interview centred on the case of Safiya Hussaini, who had been sentenced to death by stoning by a Sharia Court for adultery but later left the country.
By the time we concluded the interview, it was time for the Asr prayer. As I prepared to leave, he asked, “Have you prayed?” I replied, “No.” He then instructed me to perform ablution. After I did so, he led the prayer as Imam, and I joined him in congregation. That gesture remains one of my most treasured memories of him.
My second attempt to interview him was unsuccessful. I informed the security man of my visit, but he advised me to submit my request in writing rather than verbally, explaining that Alhaji preferred written requests because he always took time to read them, regardless of their length.
When I was eventually ushered in, he asked me my name. I replied, “Junaidu.” He smiled and said, “You are lucky. If your name were not Junaidu, I would not have allowed you to come in.”
Nevertheless, he politely declined the interview.
I later understood that he was deeply engaged in reciting the Holy Qur’an and preferred not to be interrupted.
My third and final visit was with two of my colleagues, Lawal Garba Alkanci and our photographer, Moh’d Idris. On that occasion, he was in high spirits, enjoying a bowl of thick pap. We had a pleasant off-camera conversation before commencing the official interview.
During our discussion, I called my late father, Muhammadu Sambo Wali, on the telephone so they could exchange greetings.
Being contemporaries, they spoke warmly with one another. Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji was delighted and remarked, “Your son Junaidu is here with me, and I will send you a gift.”
True to his word, he generously gave me some money to deliver to my father.
His kindness, humility, generosity, and deep sense of faith will forever remain etched in my memory.
May the gentle soul of the late Sardauna of Sokoto rest in perfect peace. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss. Ameen.
Junaidu Sambo Wali
Editor, The Path Newspaper, Sokoto
