Prof. Haruna Wakili: A Teacher and a Mentor, By Yusuf U. Madugu
“We all die, the goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will” Chuck Palaniuk
POLITICS DIGEST – On the eve of his journey to India for medical tourism, as the Secretary of ASUU-BUK, the Chairman Prof. Ibrahim Barde, the Vice Chairman, Dr Suleiman Yar’Adua, the Welfare Officer Dr. Kabiru Isa among others paid him a visit to sympathize with him over his ill health. Prof. Wakili who was then looking strong, cheerful and hopeful, was seated on a carpet in his parlor with his legs crossed holding his tasbah (rosary). While introducing members of the team, the Chair ASUU-BUK got to my turn and said this is Dr. Madugu the Sec… before he finished, Wakili quickly interjected and said “haba Chairman, why do you have to introduce Madugu to me, he is well known to me and we are in the same Department. Please don’t appropriate him” and everyone laughed.
My first encounter with Prof. Wakili was in 2004 when we were in Level lll. He taught a course titled ‘Comparative Historical Methodology’ in which he introduced us to various branches of discipline such as political, social, economic, intellectual, diplomatic, military, women and gender history. He also exposed us to advanced historical analysis through the application of critical thinking. He insisted that we must cultivate critical mind and be able to raise fundamental questions about why, when, and how historical events happened.
As an undergraduate student of History, Wakili instilled in us the passion, zeal and motivation to study History. Before taking his course, most students erroneously assumed that history was just about the past. But it is also about wars of conquest, subjugation and colonization. It is equally about heroes and heroines. With Wakili, we were meant to understand that history is not just about the past but a tool of recreating and reconstructing the past as a key to understanding the present which will enables planning for a better future. Thus, this widely pre- conceived perception about history has to change. (Wakili is a mentor and a scholar par excellence).
In 2010 when Prof. Wakili became the Head of History Department, incidentally, I was about to defend my masters in History. As HOD, Wakili chaired the panel for my internal examination. After the defense, I was called in to listen to the decision of the board which is key to or not to proceed for external viva. Immediately after I sat down, Wakili being the Chairman of the Board said ‘Madugu’! I politely replied! Sir, he said “Congratulations, your draft thesis is found worthy of presentation for external examination”. I said: thank you sir. Thereafter, he was appointed as commissioner for education by the governor of Jigawa State Alhaji Sule Lamido (2007-2015). The appointment and odyssey of Wakili in larger politics created vacuum in the headship of the Department which was perfectly filled by Prof. Asmau Garba Saeed.
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In 2013, for the first time, the Student’s Historical Society, BUK chapter chose to go to Jigawa for its annual excursion. Prof Wakili was highly elated, warmly welcomed the students and gave them all the necessary moral support.Upon their return, the sitting HOD Prof I. K. Abdussalam delegated me to travel to Dutse in company of the students’ leadership to express and extend sincere appreciation of the Department. On arriving, Wakili directed his personal assistant to tour us round the historic and public places in Dutse for sightseeing, recreation and education. Some of the places we visited include the newly built Jigawa Airport, Jigawa T.V and Radio Stations (where I granted interview), the state secretariat, the emirs and legislative estates and the likes. He offered us lavish lunch at the then famous al-Ameer Restaurant.
We thought that was all, but then he directed again we should be brought back to his office to bid him farewell. As we were about to depart, he generously gave the student leaders some money and excused them in order to have tete-a-tete with me. Even though, he was physically away from academia, but yet his spirit remained with it closely, inquiring about the happening in the ivory-tower and his academic activities in his Department. He also extended an envelope to me and said “Madugu ga wannan bayawa kasharuwa a hanya” (Mudugu: have this token). “I wish you safe journey”. I said thank you sir. (To say he was generous is understatement; the milk of human kindness in him was bountiful).
Prof Waikil was a team player and believe in the spirit of team-work. Having elected/appointed as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (administration), the HOD Prof. Dalha Waziri led a delegation to congratulate him and pray for his success. When we were about to leave, he pleaded that the same gesture should be extended to his colleague Prof Adamu Idris Tanko who was simultaneously appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic. (Wakili is humble and unassuming)
My last encounter with Prof. Wakili before his death was on Wednesday 17th of June 2020 when we visited him at the National Hospital, Abuja. My humble self and Dr. Kabiru Haruna wore double caps; the first for the Department and the other for ASUU. As we were leaving Kano for Abuja, we were hopeful that we would meet him in a stable condition after returning from India. To our shock and dismay, the reverse was the case.
None of us could believe his eyes that the bedridden person we greeted was the ebullient and sparky Wakili we knew. Amidst tears, we were all praying for him wishing him speedy recuperation. He was lying on his death bed covered with blanket. He couldn’t open his eyes let alone raise his head. In spite of the pain he was experiencing, his son whispered in his ears that they were your colleagues from the Department. Nobody thought he could move his lips, but to our surprised he responded and said Naaagode (thank you). We were shattered and worried about his condition, and we left the hospital dejected.
On a black Saturday morning of 20th June, 2020 that I received a call from Prof. M.D Suleiman informing me that Wakili was no more and I pronounced Innalillah iwainnailaihirrajiun.
May the soul of Prof. Wakili rest in peace, May Allah give the family, relatives, friends, colleagues, students, the department and the university the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Ameen.
Yusuf Umar Madugu, PhD teaches in the Department of History, Bayero University, Kano.
