03/11/2024
THE LATE ALH. SALEH ASHAFA (TURAKIN ABAJI)
Umar Ashafa āļø
Today, while coming back from Islamiya, I met a man who called out, "Umar!" I turned around to see who it was, but I couldnāt recognize him. He introduced himself as Musa and said, "I am one of the people your dad gave a pensionable appointment to, even though he didnāt know me at the time. I used to be an okada rider, and I once gave your dad a ride from Abaji Market to his residence. I didnāt know him then. After we arrived, he said, 'Ka iya tuka machine da natsuwa, Baba' ('You drive the bike calmly, my son'), and he asked, 'Kayi makaranta?' ('Are you in school?'). I replied, 'Yes, sir.' He then told me to bring my CV to his house the next day. That is your dad, Alh. Saleh. A week later, I got an appointment with the L.E.A. Alhamdulillah, Iām now happily married, and itās all thanks to that job he helped me get."
He told me that he had just left our family house, and in my mind, I thought, "My dad did much more than this for people." After the man left, I began reflecting on how, when our dad was alive, people used to come to our house daily, requesting help for their sons or daughtersāwhether it was for jobs, school fees, or issues with school management. Alh. Saleh would always go with you to sort things out, and whatever was requested would usually be delivered. Iām sure if you are reading this, you can testify to his generosity.
Alh. Saleh Ashafa, being a politician, was always on trips to reconcile peopleās problems. Whenever he returned, he would call, "Umar, come and save these numbers in my phone," or sometimes ask me to wash his car. I saw a lot of people benefiting from him, and Alhamdulillah, 70-75% of them have since become beneficiaries of government salaries.
The message Iām trying to convey is this: Why has our society changed so much today? Nobody seems to care for the younger ones anymore. Many of our leaders have abandoned the privileges and values our prominent fathers once upheld.
No nation can grow without raising the next generation.
Our leaders are getting older and retiring from office. Ask them: How many people have they helped during their years of service? Why has society forgotten the generous gestures of prominent families such as:
Alh. Adamu Shuaibu
Alh. Saleh Ashafa
Alh. Sani Ali
Alh. Adam Chiroma
Etc.
See you in the next episode of political alliance: "IN MUNYI SUYI, IN SUNYI MUYI."