Tribute to a worthy brother, late Magajin Garin Zazzau, Amb. Mansur Nuhu Bamalli
“Nawa zaku biya……? Ni fa bana son cuwa-cuwa….? “Those were the unforgettably indelible parting words from the late Magajin Gari Zazzau. We (Abbas Nuhu, Babawo Sabbeni and myself) were entertained with those humorous responses few days to his demise, when one of the palace photographers, Alh. Umar Kampa requested that we post for a picture. In English, it literally means how much would you pay (to snap with me), I wouldn’t want to be shortchanged.
Ambassador Mansur was indeed a man of the people bestowed with unimaginably abundant hilarity whose presence must be noticed, felt and appreciated whenever he was around. The demise of Mal. Mansur was truly a rudely upsetting shock to not only his nucleolus family and close circles but also, to everyone whose path had ever crossed his. Undoubtedly, his loss had created a painfully excruciating vacuum that is nearly impossible to block.
Until his departure, Mal. Mansur was the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, he was extraordinarily distinguished as a man who was blessed with” two right hands”; late Magajin Gari did not have a left hand, this in Hausa literature technically means his act of giving (to both the haves and the haves not) could best be described as an exceptionally astonishing.
This was a man even on the hospital bed when he was completely bedridden under life support, he was still feeding people; the food and beverages coming to the Duchess Hospital Lagos from friends and well-wishers where he was being treated was enough to feed all interested hungry staffers of the hospital. The hospital staffers decried his demise as it went away with their free daily regular meals.
The distinguished career envoy was one man who was everybody’s ally, because he was a predator who had made kindheartedness, generosity and humility his permanent prey. He was a prince who was so down to earth that his friendship knew no bounds, he befriended young and old, traditional title holders and their subject as well as rich and poor. He was one man I knew who defeated poverty as he mastered the rudiments of contentment. During his lifetime, there was nothing too big or too expensive to gift out, he could give out any worldly things without fear of scarcity. A week to his demise, we witnessed how he shared expensive clothing, royal gowns, horse tracks and other horse riding equipment and accessories as if he knew he didn’t need them anymore. Mal. Mansur had a landed property close to an Islamiyya School, Anwarul Islam and when the management requested for portion of it, he gifted it to the school in its entirety without contemplating.
Ambassador Mansur was a man who was synonymous with softheartedness, empathy and compassion. He was someone who was always ready to reach out and was never satisfied with reaching out. His philanthropic gesture needs to be studied as it was undeniably outstanding and beyond all extraordinary. His exemplary attitude of dignifying humanity (regardless of class, status and background), loyalty and respect to his elders, dedication to duties and career as well as unalloyed loyalty to his friends and brethren had defied common sense and simple logic. His love for his beloved mother, adoration for his brother, the Emir of Zazzau and other siblings was incontrovertibly enigmatic; during condolence, one of his biological brother Abba Nuhu whispered to my ears “it’s now that I realized, I lost a father”. When my close associate complained of difficulty in securing a Nigerian visa for his Moroccan business partner, I quickly put a call to Mal. Mansur and that resolved matter there and then.
We have missed a beloved brother, a father, a unifier, a rallying point and confident. I will always remember how he used to call, discus, plan and take confidential measures to boost confidence and success in the administration of the Emir and Zazzau Emirate. I was unable to visit him in Morocco despite several invites but those who made it had received remarkable reception from the Zazzau Prince. We have indeed lost a pillar and a bridge builder on a faithfully most sought out day by all muslim, Friday, 20th October, 2023. We however, take solace in the fact that our brother lived a pious and fulfilled life. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Jannatul Firdau 🙏🙏🙏
Abubakar Dalhatu SARKI-BUBA (PhD) writes from Zaria, Nigeria
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