Sarki Namaijaki: A community leader who was here
- Details
- Category: Tribute
- Written by Adamu Sarki Namaijaki
- Hits: 1912
As stated in the Quran, “every soul shall taste of death”. And in another verse, God (Allah) to whom we came from unto him is our return”. In a sorrowful state, I received a phone call from my dear brother, Bashari Sarki around 11:50 pm on Zhull Hajj 25, 1431 equivalent to December 1, 2010 that (Baba) Alhaji Sarki Namaijaki, died around 11:30 pm. This really touched me and the entire family but left me with no option than to write this piece of elegy over the loss of our dear father after a protracted illness. May Allah (SWA) grant his soul eternal peace.
Alhaji Sarki Namaijaki (real name Ja’afaru Abubakar), was born on Sha’baan 3, 1351A.H. equivalent to December 1, 1932, into the Zuramawa Fulani clan that settled in Zaria city of the Zazzau Emirate. He got the name Sarki Namaijaki from his eldest brother, Alhaji Sani Maijaki and was not privileged to acquire a formal western education except that of Islamic school. Later in life, he enrolled in mass literacy education. As a tradition in Hausa/Fulani societies of northern Nigeria, young Sarki started with a koranic (slate) schools (i. e. makarantan allo) from his farther, Alhaji Abubakar Kura. Thereafter, he proceeded to makarantun zaure within and outside Zaria and at the same time, learning one skill or the other.He started working as a driver, and within a short time, fortune started smiling at him as he owned buses and trucks starting a career as a transporter. He also ventured into trade, then to contract jobs. He was a wealthy businessman and politician who became famous and popular within and outside Zaria and Kaduna state.
While the clan was getting over the death of Ja’afaru, a week after his immediate elder brother, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Namaijaki (Baban Salihu) also died December 8, 2010. May Allah (SWA) grant them and other Muslim Ummah who passed on Aljanatul Firdausi and give us the family and the Zazzau Emirate the fortitude to bear the loss. Amen.
Many reasons prompted this tribute to our late father. First, and foremost, he was a pious and religious man and always adhered to the strict tenets of Islam. as a wealthy man, he contributed money to the propagation and spread of Islam by buying Qur’an and other Islamic books which were distributed to Islamiya schools within and outside the Zazzau emirate. He also built and renovated a lot of slate schools (makarantun allo), Islamiya schools and mosques, sunk many boreholes within and outside Zaria. One other remarkable thing about his saddakatul-jariya was that he did them secretly without making noise; this act is most loved by Allah. He also sponsored many to both the lesser hajj and substantive hajj. Every Friday morning, Baba gathered and organized the poor and needy people to give them alms.
Alhaji or Baba Sarki as we used to address him, loved his children as well as the children of other community members. Late Alhaji Sarki was a father to all in our clan as he treated his children and our cousins equally. He empowered people and encouraged parents to send their children to both western and Islamic schools as well as facilitated employment for deserving members of the public not minding who they are or what religion they professed. He preached peace and enjoined people to live in harmony with one another. Baba was a disciplined and a no nonsense man as he did not compromise on disciplining us onto the right ways of doing things and he led by example.
Only God knows the number of people he financed and sponsored their education and those he picked up their medical bills within and outside Zaria.
Alhaji Sarki was equally was hardworking trader, businessman, transporter, politician and contractor. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Maijaki Nigeria Limited which specializes in building construction, supplies and installation of schools and hospital equipment, a contractor who believed in doing things right according to contract specification. He was transparent in his dealings and always urging us and his associates to be honest, disciplined, law abiding and resfectful He maintained a very cordial relationship with the people in authority and traditional rulers in the emirate. He is survived by his eldest brother, Alhaji Sani Maijaki, younger ones, three wives, his first son, Salihu Sarki Namaijaki, many children and grandchildren. May Almighty Allah forgive him and his brother their sins, reward them with great beyond and protect the the family. Baba, we will continue to miss you and you will remain great.
Adamu writes from Kano.
Articles
Sarki Namaijaki: A community leader who was here
Category: Tribute Written by Adamu Sarki Namaijaki Hits: 1912
As stated in the Quran, “every soul shall taste of death”. And in another verse, God (Allah) to whom we came from unto him is our return”. In a sorrowful state, I received a phone call from my dear brother, Bashari Sarki around 11:50 pm on Zhull Hajj 25, 1431 equivalent to December 1, 2010 that (Baba) Alhaji Sarki Namaijaki, died around 11:30 pm. This really touched me and the entire family but left me with no option than to write this piece of elegy over the loss of our dear father after a protracted illness. May Allah (SWA) grant his soul eternal peace.
Alhaji Sarki Namaijaki (real name Ja’afaru Abubakar), was born on Sha’baan 3, 1351A.H. equivalent to December 1, 1932, into the Zuramawa Fulani clan that settled in Zaria city of the Zazzau Emirate. He got the name Sarki Namaijaki from his eldest brother, Alhaji Sani Maijaki and was not privileged to acquire a formal western education except that of Islamic school. Later in life, he enrolled in mass literacy education. As a tradition in Hausa/Fulani societies of northern Nigeria, young Sarki started with a koranic (slate) schools (i. e. makarantan allo) from his farther, Alhaji Abubakar Kura. Thereafter, he proceeded to makarantun zaure within and outside Zaria and at the same time, learning one skill or the other.He started working as a driver, and within a short time, fortune started smiling at him as he owned buses and trucks starting a career as a transporter. He also ventured into trade, then to contract jobs. He was a wealthy businessman and politician who became famous and popular within and outside Zaria and Kaduna state.
While the clan was getting over the death of Ja’afaru, a week after his immediate elder brother, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Namaijaki (Baban Salihu) also died December 8, 2010. May Allah (SWA) grant them and other Muslim Ummah who passed on Aljanatul Firdausi and give us the family and the Zazzau Emirate the fortitude to bear the loss. Amen.
Many reasons prompted this tribute to our late father. First, and foremost, he was a pious and religious man and always adhered to the strict tenets of Islam. as a wealthy man, he contributed money to the propagation and spread of Islam by buying Qur’an and other Islamic books which were distributed to Islamiya schools within and outside the Zazzau emirate. He also built and renovated a lot of slate schools (makarantun allo), Islamiya schools and mosques, sunk many boreholes within and outside Zaria. One other remarkable thing about his saddakatul-jariya was that he did them secretly without making noise; this act is most loved by Allah. He also sponsored many to both the lesser hajj and substantive hajj. Every Friday morning, Baba gathered and organized the poor and needy people to give them alms.
Alhaji or Baba Sarki as we used to address him, loved his children as well as the children of other community members. Late Alhaji Sarki was a father to all in our clan as he treated his children and our cousins equally. He empowered people and encouraged parents to send their children to both western and Islamic schools as well as facilitated employment for deserving members of the public not minding who they are or what religion they professed. He preached peace and enjoined people to live in harmony with one another. Baba was a disciplined and a no nonsense man as he did not compromise on disciplining us onto the right ways of doing things and he led by example.
Only God knows the number of people he financed and sponsored their education and those he picked up their medical bills within and outside Zaria.
Alhaji Sarki was equally was hardworking trader, businessman, transporter, politician and contractor. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Maijaki Nigeria Limited which specializes in building construction, supplies and installation of schools and hospital equipment, a contractor who believed in doing things right according to contract specification. He was transparent in his dealings and always urging us and his associates to be honest, disciplined, law abiding and resfectful He maintained a very cordial relationship with the people in authority and traditional rulers in the emirate. He is survived by his eldest brother, Alhaji Sani Maijaki, younger ones, three wives, his first son, Salihu Sarki Namaijaki, many children and grandchildren. May Almighty Allah forgive him and his brother their sins, reward them with great beyond and protect the the family. Baba, we will continue to miss you and you will remain great.
Adamu writes from Kano.