Opinion:The passing of Alhaji Abubakar Lah, Shettiman Ilorin by Is'haq Modibbo Kawu
By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu
Last Sunday, Alhaji Abubakar Lah, Shettiman Ilorin died. He was in his late 90s and was in fact, the oldest surviving alumnus of the famous Barewa College, Zaria. I think it was in 2002 that I conducted and published a lengthy interview with Alhaji Lah, as Editor of DAILY TRUST; it alerted the hierarchy of BOBA, the Barewa old boys association, that he was still alive and was their oldest member. I was in Ilorin up till early Monday morning but somehow missed the story of his passing.
I only discovered on Monday night, back in Abuja, as I checked a local Ilorin website for stories of happenings in the community. I had a very close relationship with the incredibly modest old man, who had played a central role in the education of many generations of people all over Northern Nigeria. He spoke many languages: Yoruba, Hausa, Nupe, Fulfulde and English, amongst several others.
The late Lamidon Adamawa was one of the oldest monarchs in the North, but had in fact been a student of the late Alhaji Abubakar Lah. A few years ago, the Emir of Ilorin told me an interesting story. There had been a meeting of Northern Emirs in Kaduna and the late Lamido inquired about the late Alhaji Lah.
He was alive, hale and hearty, the Emir of Ilorin told the Lamido. A few months down the line, Alhaji Lah was made head of a delegation to Adamawa, where he met his old student, the Lamido and other former students, after over sixty years. Alhaji Abubakar Lah was a repository of the history of his times and as the famous Malian historian, Professor Hampate Ba once said, an old man or woman in Africa, was the repository of the history of our peoples, and everytime they die, it was the equivalence of the burning of a library.
With Alhaji Abubakar Lah's death, Ilorin, the North and Nigeria, lost a remarkable son who contributed, especially in those early years that we have continued to valorize as our golden age. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljanna. Allah ya jikan Shettiman Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Lah.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Ilorin Talaka Parapo Pakata Development Association Salau Kabiru Abdullahi Kisira John Olobayo Ramadhan Victor Gbenga Yusuf Isa Aremu CKNG Shururat Olatinwo Ghali Alaaya Ejidongari Mogaji Aare Gbenga Adebayo Kemi Adeosun Yoonus Kola Olatinwo Post-utme Alagbado Madawaki Of Ilorin Christopher Odetunde Baba Isale Wahab Olasupo Egbewole Jawondo Muhammed Danjuma Saudat Abdulbaqi Suleiman Ajadi Eleyele Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education Olaosebikan Abdullateef Abdussalam Ope Saraki Abdulrazaq Akorede Lithium Salihu Ajia Onilorin Makama Of Kaiama Amos Bajeh Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye Mahe Abdulkadir Tsaragi/Share Kolawole Akande Halimat Yusuf Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon Mary Arinde Omoniyi M. Ayinla Ishola Balogun Fulani Orire Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf Kudirat Arinola Lawal Bashir Badawi Seun Bolaji Shaykh Luqman Jimoh Oko Garba Ado Sanni Aliyu Muhammed KWASAA Aliyu Umar Damilola Yusuf Adelodun Oke-Oyi Sa\'adu Salau Oye Tinuoye High Court Egbewole Tunji Arosanyin Local Government Pension Board Alaaya Ilorin Likeminds Foundation Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa Mustapha AbdulGaniyu Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa Shaaba Lafiagi Abdulrahman Abdulrazak Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq Chief Imam Of Ilorin Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin Funmilayo Oniwa

