I was just returning from one of my evening outings when I
met a woman and a man discussing the shocking incident. After much
lamentations, the duo recounted his good works which climaxed with his love for
mankind and dedication to the service of God!
Long before now, a friend once told me about how great Baba
was in the eyes of his people back home. Great at home, great in the diaspora
as I learnt he once presented himself for the presidency of Nigeria. So willing
to serve was this great man of virtue.
Even as an architect, the Late Baba strived to make a mark
in the field of law. He was one of the few Nigerians, death or alive, who could
represent himself or anyone in any court in the land and win a legal battle. He
was trained architect but lived excellent 'Lawyer'' life. The simplest
explanation in my modest estimation is imbedded in the magic wand of passion
and experience!
Baba Daspan took personal interest and invested his all to
fight the course of justice for the defenseless. He practically did that when
one Danjuma, a Ngas chap had a terrible encounter with PW LTD, a popular
Construction company in the Country. On that fateful day, the chap had a
professional accident while working at one of the company's construction sites,
an overhead bridge which was just by Late Baba's residence.
Curiously, the construction company denied responsibility for
the treatment and compensation of this visible dedicated staff, claiming the
victim was not their staff and Baba voluntarily picked up the case against the
company. It was meant to be purely a humanitarian service because the victim
who narrowly escaped death had no visible means of hiring and paying for any legal service(s).
Late Baba Daspan had a borehole in his house which became
the only nearest and reliable source of drinkable in our neighbourhood. One
striking act generosity of Baba, a rare breed per excellence was that he has a
borehole where people, neighbours and strangers frequented 24 hours during dry
season but the deceased will not complaint. Even when it broke down; Baba
Daspan will repair it without demanding any explanation as to who was
responsible for the breakdown. That was who this man was and this credible witness
is on the lips of toddlers, our children who always go to his hospitality house
to fetch water.
Baba Architect was indeed a community leader, a well-respected
moral conscience of the neighbourhood. He was a philanthropist, a very humble
father and father figure whose only interest is to make life more just,
equitable and convenient for all.
The Daspan family were through great agony and travails
occasioned by horrifying activities of kidnappers but because of Baba's faith
in God, he lived as though nothing happened. Always very free faced and
calculative!
Through Baba I have learnt the true meaning of kindness. I
have also learnt power of courage and faith in God as antidotes for worrying
problems. His life again taught me that professional training does not make a
man a professional but passion. With passion the world could make medical
doctors out of trained engineers or accountants out of historians. Passion
sustained by experience could make all the difference!
When positive passion is on the driver's seat of a man's
life, success is sure. That is the main thesis of Baba's mysterious breakthrough
in a field not his own.
Road crashes is one of the worst death traps in Nigeria but
for how long. It has forcefully snatched on of our finest brands but we do not
even have the capacity to ask why.
Anyway, Late Baba Daspan has paid his dues in the land of
the living and we can only say Rest in Peace at the others side. Finally, let
me sincerely say take heard to the immediate family, our neighbourhood;
community, Mangu LGC; Plateau State and Nigeria. The deceased is out of sight
to be with the Lord, his Maker but his legacies shall never fade in our dearest
memories.
Should this tribute get to you in the great beyond, you
might not really know who the author truly is, though a neighbour but Caring
patriot, I actually wished I were a poet to curve better lines or a songbird to
sing your praise even in death!
(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba Yilgak'ha, July 27, 2021; SMS:
08118161263; Email: loisayuba420@gmail.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment