This date, 20 years ago, a shooting star zoomed down from empty sky, nothing is heard of a hooting bird than its sad mournful cry and the kith and kin wail all day. For that was the day our father quit the scene.
There are memories that won’t leave you no matter how long it has happened. Such is this memory, the recall of the day that my progenitor transmogrified into the living unseen. For that was the very day I had first witnessed a larger crowd in my life. I remember it was not up to twenty minutes after his transition that our street was already swarmed with people. Family, friends, distant relatives, and a host of sympathisers came to sympathize with us over the death of a man who lived his entire life for others.
Alhaji Dauda Sa’adudeen Olosan, for that was my grandfather’s name, was a philanthropist of highest degree who believed wealth spent for others, for the sake of Almighty Allah, is the only wealth for the doers. And with that, I won’t be overzealous to say charity is his second nature. To extend his kind gesture, he would organize prayer and feast on every Friday of the week. During his lifetime, everybody knew Friday in our home is for merrymaking.
Baba One Million’s love for us (children) is second to none. His love, as every other grandfather, remained the best we had ever received. He detected if something was amiss through our taciturnity. He was cared for us like a mother-bird who would go lengthy to protect its chick. For he knew we are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies.
This date, 20 years ago, a shooting star zoomed down from empty sky, nothing is heard of a hooting bird than its sad mournful cry and the kith and kin wail all day. For that was the day our father quit the scene. Sorrow catched up with us and filled the abyss of our troubled heart. We felt thoroughly abandoned, like a stone at the bottom of a lake.
Till today, the vacuum his absence has left in our heart is inexplicable. As our Imam prayed today, may Allah make Al-janatul firdaos his eternal destination. Amen.
Dauda Musbau is a freelance journalist from Ilorin, capital of Kwara State. He can be reached Via 07033236993 or [email protected].