Bashir Tofa: The meeting that never was, by Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada

Whenever we lost an elder in Kano, i rush to the wall of Mallam Jaafar mr Jaafar or Abdulaziz Abdulaziz to read from their tributes. Now, i read from that of Mallam Jaafar about Alhaji Bashir Tofa and now waiting for Abdulaziz. The duo are repository of kano’s political happenings in the 90’s.

Ganduje mourns Tofa as an outstanding statesman

I could recall a tribute on the Late Engr Magaji Abdullahi by Jaafar, titled; Magaji Abdullahi: The governor that never was and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz’s tribute to the same Magaji as a flamboyant politician.

No doubt, Kano is the centre of politics in the North, the kind of people it produce in the political arena says so much on the commercial hub.

May Allah rest the soul of Alhaji Bashir Tofa that i never met in person despite the fact that he gave me an appointment at the end of June, 2020. He ended the text with ‘Remind me then’ was what i have forgotten to actualize by reminding him.

When the fake news of his death broke four days ago, i hurriedly searched for his contact on my phone to read from our conversation, there i realised of of the appointment that we should look forward to the end of June because of some personal commitments. I sent him that text in the midst of June, 2020.

Allah has destined that i would not be meeting with the late author, poet and politician in person.

I can testify that Alhaji Bashir Tofa was vividly devoted to his God, what has given me the inspiration that nothing will give you a good ending like a perfect devotion to Allah SWT.

I’m a regular visitor to his old house at Gandun Albasa to meet with his nephew, my friend and elder brother Mallam Ahmed Na’abba right from the late 2012.

From what i observed about Alhaji as they fondly called him was his strong passion in charity and service to humanity.

A brilliant lover of Literature, he authored eight books in Hausa, which include: Tunaninka Kamanninka (The way you think reflects in your character), Kimiyyar Sararin Samaniya (Space science), Kimiyya da Al’ajaban Al-Kur’ani (The science and wonders of the Qur’an), Gajerun Labarai (Short stories), Amazadan a Birnin Aljanu (Amazadan in the land of the spirits), Amazadan da Zoben Farsiyas (Amazadan and Farsiyas ring), Rayuwa Bayan Mutuwa (Life after death), and Mu Sha Dariya (Let us laugh).