It was exactly a month after the completion of my service that the dark cloud settled over our household, the day had all the ingredients of being a difficult day. I remember Njebo Nansie Danjuma Jimen calling me on Friday (10 Oct. 2008) that Baba was a bit down, though he was getting better, and the hospital has suggested he rested (I bet not the kind of rest he actually went for). I was in Zaria then, so I shrug it off as routine being under the whether, even when she said Nano Danjuma Jimen and Nkaro Carolyn Danjuma Jimen were coming over to see him. I remember clearly the events of the dreadful day, six years ago, we went to Uncle Roger Tankos farm to harvest Maize, we came back exhausted and after eating a huge serving of Aunty Julie Tankos sumptuous fried rice, I fell into the arms of a fatigue inspired nap, I cant remember how long I slept but I was woken by Gideon Tanko that Daddy wanted to see me, I went to the living room and saw him, he was with Motapwa Kanita Folugbemi-Judes Dad, that was when he delivered the sad news, in the most apt, calm (at least he made me think so) and clear manner; toh Baba fa rai yayi hali, sai mu yi hakuri. At first I though it was a joke (we joke a lot with Daddy), but I immediately knew it wasnt and it occurred to me that a star has left our horizon(physically). We left Zaria for Kwoi, it was already late in the evening, we arrived in the late hours of dusk, if I had any iota of doubt, it was cleared by the solemn atmosphere that greeted us on arrival, it was for real; Baba has gone to rest with the ancestors. Everything moved fast from then on, the funeral service and the final internment. I remember being calm knowing that Baba died a fulfilled man, he worked ALL his life, so after seeing me his last born through school and service I think he just said, now I can rest and breath his last, it was that simple...... I was calm and didnt cry (just twice, lolz; when he was being taken to the Church and during the service when Dangana Ezekiel sang a tear drawing tribute song) cos I somehow felt that was what Baba always wanted, we were overwhelmed by the various heart warming tributes and the multitude of condolences we received. Rest on cos even today and in the future we keep having reasons to remember you in one way or the other.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 08:29:42 +0000
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