The news of the glorious exit of one of the oldest elder statesmen, Yamusa Abdullahi Ardo came to me like a thunderbolt. This is because his passing away and total eclipse is a big blow to the quest for a community like Tilden Fulani considering his enormous contributions to peace building and community development.
It is believed that his passion for unity, oneness, development and progress of his own people cannot be overemphasized considering the inescapable fact that vacuum left by people like him are very difficult to fill at the time his fatherly role as well as grand fatherly advise is needed at all times.
At the time he was calling the short as one of the oldest elder statesman in Toro local government at 99 years, many are of the opinion that a great hero has fallen in Tilden Fulani.
Precisely, Wednesday 12th February,2020 while I was taking my dinner alongside my friend, a Doctor, I missed a call from my leader Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam. Few minutes later, I saw another call from Yusuf who happened to be a close associate of the SDP National Secretary, that is the moment my mind told me all is not well having the knowledge of how deteriorated, late Yamusa’s illness had grown.
Without hesitation, I phoned Makaman Tilde back, upon picking my call, I heard a cold voice and before he speaks, I recited Innalillahi wa’inna ilaihin Raji’un, Ubangiji Allah ya Jikan Baba da Rahama. It was early morning the next day that I boarded a taxi to Tilden Fulani to witnessed the funeral prayer of the late great elder statesman who many believed has left a vacuum that is very difficult to fill.
The late Yamusa Abdullahi Ardo has died a hero, leaving behind legacies worthy of emulation. He also left behind a wife, Six children, 95 grand children and over 100 great grand children to mourn him. It was on Wednesday 12th February, 2020 at around 7pm when the sad news broke out and immediately went viral on social media platforms.
It was a night that promulgated many discussions all over Tilden Fulani and it was a topic of deliberations in most Mai Shayi Joins that Ardo Yamusa is gone.
The burial was scheduled the next day Thursday by 10am by family members this is because it was already late and also to allow other immediate family members to be part of the funeral of the fallen elder (Dattijo) including his son the National Secretary of SDP Alhaji Shehu Gabam.
The entire community of Tilden Fulani was aggoged by sympathizers from the entire Toro local government, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa states, among others. Religious and Traditional leaders where not left out, Political associates and political leaders, elders and youth wings were all at the residence of the deceased to show their last respect to the late Ardo Yamusa.
It was a mourning ground fill up with people of different backgrounds of culture, tribes and religion who were on ground to identify with the family of the deceased.
JOURNEY TO THE MOTHER EARTH.
It was 11:14am when the National Secretary of Social Democratic Party Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam (SDP) who hold the title of Makaman Tilde and one of the deceased’s renown son arrived from Abuja in company of friends and Political associates to witness the burial of their father. The funeral prayer was led by Mallam Abubakar Uthman, Chief Imam of JIBWIS in Tilden Fulani while hundreds recites Allahu’akbar after him.
The next thing was laying in state of the deceased to Tilden Fulani cemetery where mammoth crowd of sympathizers gathered at the grave yard waiting for the arrival of the deceased corps to be laid to rest. It was a moment of tears when the deceased’s body arrived in a Toyota Hilux van while other exotic cars that never fly such un-motor-able roads followed. Prominent personalities such as Senator Abubakar Maikafi, Osama Sade, Sani Ahmed Toro, Sarkin Tilden Fulani and Sarkin Narabi, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarkin Sudan were among the people that graced the graveyard. In fact the dignitaries were too many to mention. They all droved to the grave yard while we gently queued behind them in a red coloured Honda Element memorising that no matter what, one day this way will definitely lead to our final destination.
The moment the septogenerian elder stateman was ushered in, the attention of his immediate children was drawn and were asked by the Chief Imam leading the funeral, Uthman to be handed the shovel to disbursed sand and leaves to cover the grave of their father. Tears began to fall from my eyes and those close to me. The next person to be called upon was Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam to take part in the burial of his father signifying that their father has returned to the mother Earth.
As soon as the burial was over, It was a brief moment of preaching and exhibition of the great virtues of the late father who according to the Imam was so instrumental to many of the achievements recorded in the community, advising his children to emulate their late father so as to keep his name alive while in his grave.
A good name they said is better than precious gold and Yamusa Abdullahi Ardo has left more than a good name as described by Mallam Uthman who led his funeral prayer.
A MOMENT OF CONDOLENCES.
It was historical mourning event in Tilden Fulani that brought together family, friends, religious and traditional leaders as well as political associates together from all walks of life on a sympathy visit to the Residence of the National Secretary of SDP Alh. Shehu Musa Gabam (Makaman Tilde) to share with him their concern over the great and irreplaceable lost. It was a moment of shock and mourning at the same time a moment of joy for the Gabam family who were receiving illustrious sons and daughters of Bauchi State whose presence conforted the family.
The Emir of Bauchi was ably represented by Ajiyan Bauchi and Sallaman Bauchi. The age-long relationship between Gabam and late Abubakar Rimi family was strengthened with the presence of his two sons Abubakar Rimi (Rimi Junior) and Nura Abubakar Rimi. The SDP NEC led by Professor Adeniran , Former Ministers, former members and present, Former Governors and present, leadership of the Nigerian political parties, Sheirk Abdulmuhyi, Alh. Kashim Imam (Matawalen Borno), Former Director SSS, Lawal Daura, former NSA Sambo Dasuki, National leadership of MACBAN led by Bello Bodejo, Sen. Nazif Gamawa, former EFCC chairman were among many dignitaries my eyes can glimpsed during the seven days mourning period.
The death has created a vacuum and has further exposed the Gabam family wider relationship beyond Tilden Fulani and Bauchi State but the nation as a whole. Many who could not attend the funeral placed calls and sent SMS to reach out to the family of late Ardo Yamusa Abdullahi.
I cannot complete my tribute piece without mentioning the former Nigerian Military President, Gen. Babangida and HE. Atiku Abubakar, former Speaker of house of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, HRH. The Emir of Bauchi Alh. (Dr) Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu, Hon. Benni Lar, HE. Ahmad Muazu, HE. Isa Yuguda, HE. Donald Duke, Sen. Bala Mohammed CON, HE. Malam Isa Yuguda, HE. Haruna Boni, HE. Fedelis Tapgun and Baraden Bauchi, Garba Dahiru, among others.
In conclusion, the family of Ardo Yamusa Abdullahi has no single reason to regret the glorious exit of their aged Father believing that all souls must taste death.The fact that he is no more but he has left behind a shoulder , a pillar, a leader, a symbol of unity, a leader and another Ardo Yamusa Abdullahi in person of Alh. Shehu Musa Gabam (Makaman Tilde) whose long hands has brought in Nigerians from all walks of life together to Tilden Fulani. My esteem prayers are with the deceased and all other departed souls. May Almighty Allah in his Mercy grant them Jannatul Firdausi Ameen. May our last words of breath on Earth be Khalimatul Shahada Ameen.
Written and compiled by Gabam Media Office , Bauchi State ,Nigeria
