Prof. Abubakar Momoh: I Weep No More

•Professor-Abubakar-Momoh

Late Prof Abubakar Momoh

Late Prof Abubakar Momoh

By Ken Tadaferua

It was just Monday morning. The 29th day of May. Nigeria’s Democracy Day. The message came on WhatsApp from my friend, Vicky Eta-Messi. It was terse, crypt and tear stained. It read: “Your friend Prof Abubakar Momoh just passed on this morning.”

Essence of faith dissolved in that moment in salty tears. Shock coursed in electric bolts through my frame. And I knelt before Him on the Cross. But why? The message hit me so hard. I wept, heart broken. I do not know if I reacted thus because the sad news was so sudden and shocking. But what I do know is Professor Momoh is one of the nicest and most helpful persons I have ever interacted with on planet earth.

He was only 52, to have been 53 next August 28. An intellectual of repute. Respected writer and columnist. An erudite scholar. A professor of political science. Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Lagos State University (LASU). Researcher and lecturer at many universities across the world, as well as visiting research fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland; fellow, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden.

A renowned civil rights activist, member of the advisory board of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). He was until his death, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He served as election observer to several African countries on behalf of ECOWAS and African Union.

But all of these strikingly outstanding achievements pale beside his incredible sense of selflessness, humility, large heartedness, free giving, charity, virtues of deep compassion and empathy. A great man driven by spiritualism and fear of God and loving one’s neighbours as oneself. It was one of his many acts of kindness that linked our destiny.

May 2014. That was when I first ever interacted with him. On phone. My friend, Vicky had called to ask after my health which then was so bad, I could hardly walk. She promised to reach her boss in INEC, a certain Prof., who I did not know but who was dealing with about my same challenge a very close relative of his suffered. The next day, my phone rang. “This is Abu, who works with Vicky”, the voice said. Then he asked questions. Thereafter he gave me a treatment protocol for free. In three days, I was up and walking around my estate, though I couldn’t get a particular supplement from the United States which he had recommended.

Week after week, he called to ask after my progress. His voice became the voice. It was one of hope, rejuvenation and prayers. He seemed always there when my conditions ebbed and buoyed me up with such optimism. Then he got some folks to buy and fly in the expensive supplements from America, and then sent them to me, through some of his friends in Lagos. For free. Absolutely free. Not once. Not twice. I called him again and again to allow me pay for the supplements. But nope. He only said: Just get well so we celebrate. I cannot explain it but I truly felt I was talking with an angel. I was getting stronger.

We spoke on phone. He sent good people to me with free packages to help me with my health challenge. He studiously advised me from time to time on how to take care of myself. He told me: Do not be afraid. Nothing will happen to you if you do what I ask to do. He regularly called to ask after me and my health. But Abu was only a voice. Year in and year out, we only spoke on phone.

I kept hoping and praying to see him some day soon. I was often too weak to travel or under some treatment or another. There was an opportunity some months ago when he came to Lagos for a work related meeting. We agreed to meet. But his schedule was so tight, it was not to be. I wanted to tell him face to face, what I always told him on phone, that he has the soul of an angel. That he is a good and wonderful person. But I was never, ever to meet my friend, physically and face to face here on earth. He left me here on Monday. How sad. How devastating.

I never met this my wonderful friend, who practically raised me from a state of forlorn despair to courage, belief, hope and strength. To believe in the human spirit at a time some relatives and friends willfully neglect and show callow callousness to the helplessly ill and needy. I was awed.

He was a Muslim. I am Christian. But his spirituality cut like a sharp razor across religion. His humaneness was effortless and graceful and compelling. He always brought to my mind, Jesus Christ’s parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), who picked up and cared for the man robbed, beaten and left on the highway for dead but was avoided on the road by the “religious” Levite.

Abu taught me mighty things. I miss him. It is almost a physical hurt that I never saw him and will never see him here on earth. But I am comforted… I am of the strong conviction that he is clothed in Heaven’s light with the angels and saints before the Lamb of God and in the presence of the Almighty Father and the Holy Spirit.

I am also reminded of Jesus’ words after the faith of the centurion (a Roman and gentile) surprised him deeply. Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:10-12.

I was amazed and still amazed by Abu. When I made enquiries about this wonderful man, I was told so many stories of his kindness. With so many students under scholarships from his salary or from people he linked the indigent students to for help. So many, many others he offered help of all kinds to, from helping the sick to the distraught and the needy for free. The stories are many. The great number of those he helped are Christians.

Last year, I called him to tell him of my trip to the United States where I planned to buy the supplements he had recommended. He said, if you can please buy me some or as much as you can buy for me because so many patients I know would be glad to have some. When he received them, he was so excited and so delighted. It was such a great joy to do this for him and those he gave the supplements.

Add all of these to his advocacy for transparency, accountability and good governance within and outside Nigeria.

He was a great gentleman and friend

April 6, 2016. Abu sent me a text: “Oga Ken, All shall be well again. Just keep a positive heart.”

December 27, 2016: Another text from Abu: Oga Ken, Season’s greetings. How is your health? Mom is doing terrific!!!! Lets keep in touch. God bless you. Abu”

This was such a regular fare. Then the message came on Monday. Abu is dead.

He was not in the habit of talking about himself. So I do not intimately know about his person except for nuggets I got from some folks who know him well. I did not know that Abu, this pillar of support and hope, was himself lugging around, a huge cross. It was only a few weeks ago of uncommon silence from him that I called my friend Vicky who told me he was ill and reached him to call me. It was only then he spoke of some spinal problem he was dealing with. But that it was not such a big deal. He was doing some tests and that when he stabilised, he would travel to South Africa for treatment. He did not sound particularly worried nor was there a hint of an emergency. I also got to learn that he lost his father only a few months ago. Yet he still sounded upbeat and optimist, advising me to take of my health

It was also only on Monday that I got to know he had a horrible experience in 2009. He had gone to Ekiti State as an election observer to cover the April 25, 2009 rerun of the election, ordered by the Court of Appeal in February 2009, between Olusegun Oni, the State governor, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr Kayode Fayemi of Action Congress (AC). While returning from Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, political thugs launched a vicious attack on Abu and other observers, unleashing such severe and brutal beatings. That was part of his sacrifice for democracy in Nigeria.

Then five years ago in 2012, he was in a South African hospital for months for intensive and expensive treatments for spinal cord ailments. Yet, his health challenge not withstanding, he found time and resources to comfort and support so many others in need. He fought ceaselessly for the true tenets of democracy. He was brutalised for it. He then happened to have died on Democracy Day. How fortuitous the destiny of life.

Abu taught me mighty things. I miss him. It is almost a physical hurt that I never saw him and will never see him here on earth. But I am comforted for Jesus said: “many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” I am of the strong conviction that he is clothed in Heaven’s light with the angels and saints before the Lamb of God and in the presence of the Almighty Father and the Holy Spirit.

I see Abu smiling, for his goodness, must certainly earn him a seat with the angels and saints in joyful eternity. I weep no more Prof. I mourn no more Abu. I can see you, I can see your glow in the Holy blaze of Heaven’s lights. We will meet when the Lord wills it. I weep no more.

My brother Abu. Bye for now.

Ken Tadaferua is a media and marketing communications consultant. Twitter: @ktadaferua

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