By Adamu Muhammad Dodo
It was my elder brother and older in the pen profession, communicator historian, Yakubu Abdullahi Yakubu, YAY, who worked closely with him that broke the palatable news, acceptable to the spirit of conscience, by heartily congratulating the competent legislator the northern senatorial district has not been opportune to have, the former governor of Adamawa state, His Excellency Boni Haruna, my family considered as unhypocritical man of his words, for “the confidence reposed in him by the great party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as a member representing Adamawa State to draw up a schema for zoning offices for the purpose of the 2023 general elections.
“The confidence reposed in this gentleman stems from his sense of justice and, of course, equity. No equity, no justice. Under this layer is his sympathy and empathy for other people”, YAY writes.
As an anecdote, YAY narrates one of the three stories he says he has, to justify the few listed attributes of his former boss, Boni Haruna, our former governor.
The two stories we are still kept in suspence by the innovative, storytelling historian as a vocation and certified communication expert, do not include the one pleasant with the other pleasing experiences I am pleased to present for your pleasure.
When in the late 2004 Justice Muhammad L.M. Dodo, otherwise referred to as Alkali Dodo, the pioneer Grand Kadi Sharia Court of Appeal Jalingo, with the creation of Taraba state eventually answered the final call of his Maker, the then governor Boni, held the hands of the Justice’ nonagenarian mother, who wished her soul to have been the invited, in mourning, comforting her to be strong with the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“My grandson! My son is gone for good this sunny Friday,” Hajja Asta-Misa, our grandmother would in lament respond to the governor Boni, she addressed as son.
The late Alkali Dodo was commissioned by Governor Boni for a peace project between herders and farmers he was both part of and the effort has paid off as much as the consideration for interfaith mediation.
I have not really been so much in the state. My source is however so sound. The governor was planning to engage the retired yet to be tired Grand Kadi in another rather grand, aimed at cohesion project, as a social responsibility when the tragedy occurred.
It was not just the family but the state tragedy. The nation has indeed lost an icon, Boni would lament. Alkali Dodo is however dearly living within the family, however in spirit. Therefore, the family should retain the government residence she occupied.
Initially, as I was told by a source close to the government house, Governor Saleh Michika of blessed memory, was Alkali Dodo’s student. Apart from commissioning for the total and complete renovation and fencing of the house, Michika would have loved to sell the government residence to his teacher the occupant. However, he knew that his teacher would not agree to the arrangement.
Governor Boni made similar advance, he was advised otherwise but the intention was solid. He did not eventually sell but as a governor, donated the house to the family rather posthumously.
Doubting Thomas insinuated that the pronouncement would not be backed by political will as much as some of the other group would want the governor to simply allocate virgin land for the family to build and relocate.
Boni kept his word, I was even the person the papers concerning the house was handed over to, on behalf of the family.
ThisDay of November 19, 2004, The Events Magazine for which I was the Editor-in-chief and other media have reported the handing over ceremony to be read below:
Govt Donates House to Late Grand Kadi’s Family
Adamawa state government formally handed over the government residence occupied by the pioneer Grand Kadi of Taraba State, late Justice Muhammad L.M. Dodo, also referred to as Alkali Dodo, to members of his family.
Performing the ceremony, Governor Boni Haruna, charged citizens of the state and nation to learn from the exemplary life of the late Alkali Dodo who was transparent, prudent and a promoter of unity peaceful coexistence throughout his life time…
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The next story that appeals to me was when a group antagonistic to monarchical order would want the court to either remove or sanction the district head of Jalingo-Maiha, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, the Ubandoma Mubi of blessed memory, who transited to great beyond eight years ago. Governor Boni Haruna was said to have indicated interest in providing a solid lawyer in defence of the district head, an executive offer the Ubandoma humbly declined, given as reason that he had already submitted the case before the Owner of the Timeless Throne, the Most Magesty and Most Merciful God.
Governor Boni would not use his executive power to influence judgement as much as he considered the Ubandoma as honest man of justice.
This is to join the popular prayers for the Peoples Democratic Party to have in His Excellency Boni Haruna an accomplished acceptable assignment while we wait for YAY’s remaining stories.
