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By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
“For each and everyone of us, men and woman, the young and the old, the have and have not, the rich and the poor, the leader and the led, there is time to be born and a time to die, in between is the privilege to live, let serve to the glory of our creator, to the glory of humanity and to the glory of our great nation. Tolerate our differences and accept our grievance.”
– James Audu
Innaa Lillaahi Wa Innaa Ilayhi Raaji’oon. And so, Muhammad Gimba Salisu, EL- Salis as is fondly called by his admirers, has passed to the world beyond. May Allaah, [Subhaanahu Wa Taa’laah], forgive him all his sins and usher him into that resting place of Jannatul Firdaus, ameen.
Death has indeed struck a great personage in the heartbeat of Lokoja with the passage of Malam Muhammad Gimba Salisu aka El- Salis, yesterday in a tragic accident along Ganaja road. Late El- salis met his untimely death on his way back after he dropped a friend who resides around Army signal- Barracks Lokoja.
There was an outpouring of grief from both the old and the young, from men and women, as well as people of different faiths, from different parts of kogi State and beyond.
It is by no means an overstatement to say that no young man had recently been so mourned by a cross-section of Kogites the way El-Salis was.
In his tribute, a lecturer with Federal University Lokoja, Dr Aminu Isah said “El-Salis is a household name to many of us who grew up in the traditional wards of Lokoja. We became closer recently for two reasons; his dream of working with the Federal University Lokoja as a public relation officer, a role he has been playing perfectly in virtually all Walimat Nikah in traditional wards of Lokoja. Secondly, El-Salis and a couple of friends and I usually meet every weekends for keep fit exercise at Mount Patti. In one of such encounters, he expressed his worry over being on uncleared list after the state screening exercise and how efforts is being made to address the issue.
“I cannot forget the kind-hearted nature of El-Salis when my car broke down about 3 months ago in the middle of the road along NTA office. El-Salis practically abandoned where he was going and ensured the car was fixed before he left”.
Also speaking, Comrade Adeiza Momoh Jimoh, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi state Council, described the deceased as loving, caring and a rallying point to all of us during our days as students in Bayero University Kano.
He prayed Allah to grant the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.
It is hardly surprising that the death, of EL- Salis attracted countless accolades from friends, colleagues and business associates from all walks of life. His fellow colleagues in Bayero University Kano, Muhammad Sule Dausu recalled that he was a man of principle who possessed enviable talents. EL- Salis was a role model the younger generation looked up to.
But the accolades that interest me most are the extremely moving comments that my brother, Alhaji Danasabe Sule Garkuwa, made about their adored and much-missed brother and confidant; “I will always remember EL- Salis as an unshakeably honest, larger than life character who had this amazing capacity to inspire people and compel attention.
“His command of the English and Arabic languages was truly astonishing. By his age, through listening to him, I knew the meaning of Holy Qur’an and other religious books,” he said.
He would be remembered for his efforts in reconciling the two warring factions. The wrangling between two brothers, the then Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Umar Imam and Alhaji Danasabe Sule, has become a growing concern to all. The deceased made the move and succeeded in bringing the two brothers and their followers together. May Allah reward him with Aljanat Firdaus, Ameen.
Muhammad Gimba Salis’s idea is worthy of emulation. We need to imbibe and instill this in our youths.
“As a young man, he showed his compatriots and younger generation that honesty and religious is the hallmark that would led man to eternal bliss.
Over five thousand Muslims ummah attended his funeral rites.
I have talked to many people who knew him well and have concluded that he was a rare gem in a world in which injustice and unethical behavior is often too rampant among his age brackets, the deceased made integrity, honesty and religious as his guiding principle until he met His creator yesterday 21 October 2017, at about 8.30- 9 pm in a ghastly accident.
El- Salis until his death was a staff of Kogi State Ministry of Education, a job he love with passion, despite the inability of his employer, Kogi State government to pay him salaries of ten months
“Even yesterday afternoon he returned from fit exercise, he lamented how he was not paid for ten months,” explained Malama sani a cousin to the deceased.
Muhammad Gimba Salisu left behind his aged mother, father, 2 wives and six children.
May Allah grant the families, friend and Muslims ummah the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.
May He in His infinite mercy forgive Muhammad Salisu all his previous mistakes and reward him with Aljanat firdaus.
To those of us that remains behind, may the departure of our brother Malam Muhammad Gimba Salisu be a lesson to all and sundry. Ameen.
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