Sarki Iliyasu: Tribute to a Lokoja youth cut short in his prime »

Sarki is (was) an easy-going, vivacious, tactful, calculative, completed, empathizing, handsome, generous, religious, accommodating, simple, brilliant, enigmatic, and intelligent young Lokoja youth unfortunately snatched from our hands. One needed to be at his burial to understand the kind person that he was; he was loved by all those whose paths crossed his.

‘SK’ as we referred to him within our circle was a youth with a promising future having just recently completed his mandatory national youth service. He was never known to be lazy; never bowing to his humble beginning. He was like us; with plenty hopes of a better tomorrow, but more than some of us in the circle; he had his eyes on the ball.

A handsome man with a boyish smile got cracked up each time some of us that are married mentioned the idea of marriage to him. He would just chuckle and say; “Baba calm down, God’s time is the best. No be marry you marry, we too go do our own soon. No come dey intimidate person abeg” and we’d all laugh it over. I know such encounter had happened between him and me severally.

Sarki in his usual self was so shaken by my accident in February this year that it was as though he was in a trance when he got to the hospital. He expressed shock and joy at the same time. He was shocked that a friend he had earlier seen on the day of the accident could suddenly be lying in hospital bed as a result of a near death experience. He expressed appreciation to Almighty God the accident didn’t go beyond the level that it did.

He wasn’t as lucky when it was his turn for an infirmity to befall him. We were at our rendezvous this Saturday. He was his usual self; full of life and conviviality. He would make jest of you only when necessary and would laugh it out and walk away if you get at him. He also knew when to back off a matter that seem to be degenerating into a distaste.

SK had a measured and matured sense of humour with humility to boot. He could apologise for a wrong committed against him. That’s how humble he was. In fact, he was a point of reference to some of us – a model of sort.

His qualities shone through wherever he found himself and this was explicitly demonstrated at the deluge of human heads that trooped to their Sarkin – Noma residence on hearing the news of his death. He, according to neighbours, was a part of the day’s early morning Islamic congregational prayers for Monday, July 1, 2019 few hours after which he was rushed into a vehicle following complaints of severe abdominal discomfort. He could not even make it to the hospital.

Thus, like a flickering light, he was here and was no longer with us. Life is indeed a walking shadow, ‘a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ If for nothing, this death has taught us so.

Men – grown men were seen weeping beside his lifeless body when it was being conveyed for burial. The cries did not abate even after he was lowered into his final resting place. Women – young and old also expressed shock and shed tears. My friends I had not seen cry since after our childhood were emotionally uncontrollable too.

Their cries taught me something, that letting out the liquid from the eyes was the admittance of helplessness. It shows that no matter your strength, some things are just beyond your emotive capacity. I cried too. Inside and outside.

His death reinforced the need to cherish the few moments we have together. To appreciate the friends within our circle and to truly care for one another.

If for nothing, Sarki was a man of great potential. He was a leader in the making. He had the aura of limitless possibilities. He was humane and sympathetic to the needs of his friends and everyone whose path crossed his.

I heard a man, in the midst of his tears in Sarkin – Noma say S K had, few days ago, got him drugs and food because he (the man) was both ill and hungry. He hoped the guy returned from the dead and prayed for a peaceful repose of his soul. Till this minute, I still hope he would speak when I see his picture on people’s profile. I still check his Facebook profile hoping to see a new post from him directly and not tags.

Lokoja has indeed lost a great man in Sarki. But as is been cliched; “No one can question God Almighty.” Rest in Jannatul-firdaus my brother and friend. Till we meet to part no more! Adieu!