Bashir Tofa: The meeting that never was, By Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada
POLITICS DIGEST- Whenever we lose an elder statesman or a political icon in Kano, I rush to the Facebook page of Mallam Jaafar Jaafar and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz to read their often glowing tributes. Now, I’ve read from that of Mallam Jaafar about the late Alhaji Bashir Tofa and now waiting for that of Abdulaziz. The two celebrated journalists are authorities in Kano’s political history, especially from the 1990s.
I recall a tribute on the Late Engr Magaji Abdullahi by Jaafar, titled “Magaji Abdullahi: The governor that never was” and Abdulaziz’s tribute to the same Magaji where he described him as a flamboyant politician.
No doubt, Kano is the centre of politics in the North, the calibre of people it produces in the political arena says so much about its capacity to create the best.
May Allah rest the soul of Alhaji Bashir Tofa whom I never met in person despite the fact that he gave me an appointment at the end of June, 2020. He asked me to remind him of the appointment but I was unable to do so until he passed on, on Monday.
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When the fake news of his death broke last Friday, I hurriedly searched for his contact on my phone to read from our conversation. I realised that the appointment was that we should look forward to the end of June because of some personal commitments.
Allah has destined that I would not be meeting with the late author, poet and politician in person.
I can testify that Alhaji Bashir Tofa was devoted to his God and that is what has given some of us the inspiration that nothing will give you a good ending like a perfect devotion to Allah.
I’m a regular visitor to his old house at Gandun Albasa where I often go to meet with his nephew, my friend and elder brother Mallam Ahmed Na’abba right from late 2012.
From what I observed about Alhaji as was they fondly called him, he had a strong passion for charity and service to humanity.
A brilliant lover of Literature, he authored eight books in Hausa, which include: Tunaninka Kamanninka (The way you think reflects in your character), Kimiyyar Sararin Samaniya (Space science), Kimiyya da Al’ajaban Al-Kur’ani (The science and wonders of the Qur’an), Gajerun Labarai (Short stories), Amazadan a Birnin Aljanu (Amazadan in the land of the spirits), Amazadan da Zoben Farsiyas (Amazadan and Farsiyas ring), Rayuwa Bayan Mutuwa (Life after death), and Mu Sha Dariya (Let us laugh).
