The man Alhaji Abubakar Lah, also known as Abubakar Ilorin, is 100 years today. Lah was born on November 30, 1912.

This is not a biographical account of Lah, the Shettima of Ilorin. I have no time and space to accomplish this for now. No doubt, Lah has become an important historical figure in these parts of the country. He is a multi-dimensional leader. In the past celebrations of his birthday, much was written on his personal life which came out as articles in newspapers. My plan to launch his biography to mark his centenary is unfortunately behind schedule. It is still his wish that this should be accomplished before his demise, which we do not want to happen now.

Like the parable of the three blind men who provided different views of their assessment of the elephant, they are few people who can claim a complete knowledge of Lah.

"Abu" Lah, as he is popularly called, was at Patigi elementary school between 1925 and 1928; and Ilorin middle school, 1928-31, but had to wait till 1933 to enter Katsina College, now Barewa College, because in 1931 Ilorin Native Authority (NA) did not have enough money to sponsor the three of them at the same time, and because the college did not enroll any student that year. Otherwise, Lah would have been mates with Yahaya Gusau, Abdulrahaman Okene.

The first year of Aliyu Musdafa, who would later become the Lamido of Adamawa, at Yola middle school in 1938 was also Abu Lah's first year as a teacher. Both struck a relationship that continued for many years even after Aliyu was named Lamido until his death.

It was throughout my many encounters with late Lamido Aliyu Musdafa that we were able to determine the date of birth of Abu Lah. When the Lamido asked of his date of birth and I told him he was born on 30th November 1919, Lamido disagreed, saying it is not possible for his teacher to be just a year ahead of him, because he was born in 1920 but recorded as 1922. The Lamido noted that Abu Lah came to Yola in 1938 already married and about to graduate at Katsina College. Lamido, therefore concluded that Abu Lah must be ten years older than him. When I returned from Yola, I narrated my discussion with the Lamido regarding his age; we agreed that it was 1912. Abu Lah cried a lot when the news of the death of Lamido reached him. The only other person he grieved over his death like that of the Lamido was of Abubakar Sola Saraki.

Abu Lah was in 1948 transferred from Ilorin middle school to Sokoto Middle School to be deputy to Alh. Muhammadu Bida, later Iyan Sokoto who was the head of the school. The other staff members in hierarchy were Mamman Zako of Agaie, very funny man who would make your intestine turn with laughter; Shehu Shagari, the poet; Ahmadu Wurno later Iman of Wurno; Saidu Jega, who developed mental problem. Saidu Jega and Ahmadu Wurno were classmate and best of friends. It was said Ahmadu resigned his appointment when his friend Saidu Jega become mentally sick. The other teachers that followed were Bello Mai Wurno and Mamman Jega, father of Professor Attahiru Jega.

Abu retains memories of Sokoto middle school. In 1950, the then Headmaster Muhammadu Bida Dan Abdullahi "Wande ya yiya" went to London on a study tour and returned to a red carpet reception in his honour. Both he and Shehu Shagari wrote poems to be recited on his arrival in the mist of crowd of staff and students singing. His poem was in English and was the first to be recited, being the most senior among the staff after the headmaster. The title of his poem was "He sigh and look". Shehu Shagari was next. He stood to say in Hausa: "Mude ba mu yiya turenci ba amma ga Hausa da mu ka gada kuma mu ka yiya". Then he started reciting his poem in Hausa to the admiration of all the staff and students. For years, Abu Lah has been making plans, which never came to fruition, to pay Shehu Shagari a visit and ask him for a copy of that poem.

One day, one of his students did wrong and Abu Lah meted out punishment to him; the other students felt aggrieved and got sympathy with some staff. The students went on a rampage and the school had to be shut.