By Bashir Rabe Mani
The fact that the blessed and highly revered Month of Ramadan, 1442 AH, and or 2021, has came and gone is undeniable. It came, it saw and it conquered. We are already missing the rare divinely controlled opportunity provided by the Month in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed to the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, PBUH, SAW. It is always tangibly agitating and psychologically as well as emotionally exerting to be hoping to witness the Month, in which there exists a single unequalled and unparalleled night, Laylatul Qadri, which equals more than one thousand nights.
Masha Allahu. In this direction, the just concluded Ramadan fast was not different. Alhamdulillahi, it has successfully been completed with the attendant jubilations and subsequent Sallah festivities. Ramadan is always a month excitedly waited for and heralded, just like the subsequent festivities. Sokoto is not an exception either.
The residence of the former Governor of Sokoto state and incumbent Senator, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko is always full of activities during the annual Ramadan fast. For the whole month, the house hosts hundreds of Muslims faithfuls for the daily Ramadan iftar of breakfast. These are not the highly classed , but, the masses, of all ages and statuses. This is apart from the usual guests of the Sarkin Yakin Sokoto, for the same gesture.
Then comes then the wee days of the Holy and revered months when Senator Wamakko usually doles out Sallah clothing materials to thousands of indigents brethren, of all ages, gender and statues, including the physically challenged and other vulnerable groups. This year, 2021, was not different as no fewer than eight thousand of them benefitted from this largesse. They were each given clothing materials and money for sewing.
Wamakko always insists that, the invaluable gesture is his widow’s mite to the beneficiaries, at no better than when the Muslims, across the country and other parts of the globe were celebrating the end of the month-long Ramadan fast, with the Eid El Fitr celebrations. This excludes the donation of assorted food items and undisclosed amount of money to the people, which he himself cannot know their numbers, only the Almighty Allah. All in the bid to get abundant reward from Him alone, the Alpha and Omega.
Another marvelous and extra ordinary gesture that precedes the Eid-el-Fitr Sallah D-Day in Sokoto is the Day 29 Ramadan Iftar that, the Sarkin Yamman Sokoto and the Member, World Muslim League hosts hundreds of friends, family, Associates and other Muslims at his country home in Gidan Kara – Wamakko. This is another remarkable and unparalleled gesture Wamakko has sustained for over two decades. The elated faithfuls dined and enjoyed the epoch-making moments to the fullest.
The 1442 AH Ramadan fast was also not different in this direction. Senator Wamakko happily and successfully hosted his guests, all for the sake of the Almighty Allah, in line with the admonishment to feed the fasting Muslim, even with a half date, that attracts bountiful . This is also in line with the Sunnah of the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, SAW, during the Ramadan fast . Prayers were offered for sustainable peace, unity and socioeconomic prosperity of the state and Nigeria, while Wamakko was full of praises for his guests, for honouring him with their esteemed presence.May the Almighty Allah reward him abundantly, Ameen, ya Hayyu,ya Qayyum.
Then came the D-Day, the Sallah day. Indeed, on that day, 13th May, 2021, all roads led to Wamakko town, headquarters of Wamakko local government of the the state, when thousands of gaily dressed and visibly elated Muslims of all ages, gender and classes trooped to the Wamakko central Eid Praying ground for the Two-Raka’at Eid prayer, marking the end of the Ramadan fast.
A mammoth crowd of the Muslim faithfuls on that day thronged the central Eid Praying Ground, where they observed the two raka’ats Eid-el- Fitr prayer, to mark the end of the Ramadan fast, 1442 AH, hence the subsequent myriad of Sallah festivities. The prayer, which started at around 9.00am, was led by the Chief Imam of Wamakko, Shehu Ardo Wamakko.
It was attended by thousands of beautifully dressed, elated celebrants who were jubilant to have witnessed the epoch-making day. Notable among them were Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Ambassador Sahabi Isa Gada, the Executive Secretary, Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, serving and former Members of National and State Assemblies, as well as some former Members of the State Executive Council.
Others were the Special Assistant to the Senate President, Alhaji Bala Hassan, the actiing State Chairman of APC, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida and other state and local governments Executives, Chiroman Wamakko and National President of the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Alhaji Bello Abubakar Wamakko, Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), among others.
Earlier in the day, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti Corruption, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has harped on the need for sustainable peace, unity and harmony in the country. The former Governor of Sokoto State, who now represents Sokoto North Senatorial District, has also called for more piety and sustained fervent prayers for the success of the Nigerian project. Wamakko spoke in his message to the Muslims in the state and other parts of Nigeria, in commemoration of the Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the Ramadan fast.
According to him: “All Nigerians should patriotically be fully committed to the Nigerian project .” We are all in it and we should steer clear of any acts capable of derailing the Nigerian train, hence, it should succeed.” We have no any other country to call our own, but Nigeria as such, as it behoves on us to do everything humanly possible for Nigeria to remain an indivisible and strong nation .”
Wamakko further admonished the Muslims to uphold the noble virtues learnt during the Ramadan fast and change for the better. He averred that such sterling virtues that include perseverance, philanthropy, respect and love for one another were crucial in providing plausible solutions to the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria.
The former Sokoto State Governor added that, the Ramadan fast had provided an auspicious opportunity for reflections on the essence of life itself, as well as life after death. Wmakko also reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to continue to do its best to make life more safer and meaningful for all Nigerians.
Then came the big one, when shortly after the completion of the Eid prayer at Wamakko, the mammoth crowd wholly surged back to the Sahabi Dange road, Gawon Nama, Sokoto, residence of the former Governor Sokoto State for the usual Sallah homage and feasting. The moment was indeed captivating. It was a sight to behold. Infact, it was a sea of heads at the house. Masha Allahu.
Though the house was not stranger to such overwhelming crowds, this one in focus was characteristically different as it was reminiscent of the 2019 campaigns seasons. One cannot be faulted if he describes as a “requiem” for the 2019 electioneering period, as well as the footsteps to the forthcoming 2023 campaigns seasons. The hand writing was clearly written on the walls and only time will tell, in Sha Allahu.
Addressing the thousands of the guests, the Chief Host, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, again acknowledged and appreciated the sustained support of the cross section of the people of the state to the APC, himself and his family, as well as his causes . Wamakko, who was emotionally laden was full of praises for them, as well as expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for this unmatchable feat. He said that, God has bestowed him with everything and his only remaining prayer is to end well from this world.
The former Governor of the state also again facilitated with the Muslims in the state and across Nigeria for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. He also beseeched the Almighty Allah for sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria, as well as for divine plausible solutions to the various challenges facing the nation, including the recurring security challenges.
Also speaking, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, corroborated with Wamakko. He also acknowledged and thanked the people of the state for their sustained support and tremendous goodwill. The Katukan Sokoto further urged them for more fervent prayers for the leaders, at all levels. The Minister also called for more prayers, for divine solutions to the raging security challenges in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the former Deputy Governor, 2019 Gubernatorial Candidate and the incumbent Executive Secretary, Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, also corroborated all that was said by both the APC Leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi. He also stressed the need for the Muslim faithfuls to sustain the noble virtues and lessons learnt during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The ES, PTF, also called for specific prayers for the success of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as for divine intervention in the current affairs of the nation.
Thereafter, special prayers for sustainable peace, unity and socioeconomic prosperity of the state and Nigeria, led by Sheikh Bashir Gidan Kanawa were offered. The prayers also sought for divine solutions to the various challenges facing Nigeria,including insecurity. Indeed, the joyous memories of the just concluded Ramadan fast will linger for long.
Mani, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Senator Aliyu Wamakko, writes from Sokoto.
