Mansir Surajo Danmusa: Coping with the reality of your demise

Haruna Mohammed Salisu

Death, for whatever reason doesn’t knock at our door, neither will it inform us when it is time to terminate our lives. Death has no pity for our plans; it has no pity for the young, the old, the disabled. It doesn’t prepare us or alert us that our demise looms.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! All praises are due to the exalted Allah before whom there was no Before unless the Before was He and after Whom there is no After unless the After be He, He is the first and the last. The great architect of the universe, the giver and taker of life, we thank Him for consistently proven to His servants that He owns everything, He decides when to give and terminate lives.

He doesn’t need parliamentarians to approve our death, neither does He consult advisers before He commit us to the next transition.
It’s with pains and sorrow I write to mourn a friend, coursemate and a professional colleague, Mansir Surajo Danmusa. The deceased like me and other colleagues just graduated last year at the Bayero University Kano and are painstakingly waiting for a failed system to engage us in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Below is a recollection of tributes from my colleagues and course mates to the hopeful Mansir Surajo Danmusa, whose life was cut short at the age of 29:

First is our former MACOSA President Tijjani Ibrahim who met the deceased barely 24 hours before his demise, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. What a shock! Words cannot adequately describe the magnitude of this pain. I was severely hit by the demise of this fellow for two monumental reasons: First, I happened to be the first person among his course mate to have met him in his hometown, Danmusa, as he wrote himself on his Facebook timeline, and sadly the last one to have done so, for he passed away barely 24 hours later. Secondly, the ‘farewell message he wrote, directly addressed to me, especially where he said “till we meet again…” which I read only after the sad news. “I met late Mansir a hale and hearty person, full of vigour, enthusiasm and hope. We discussed briefly, and I left. Neither of us was aware of what loomed over the horizon, I would have stayed longer. One incident I could remember that, to me, sum up his personality as a colleague was comments made by Professor Umar Pate about the Late Mansir. Professor Pate, after a class presentation of assignments on Population Communication, condemned most of the presenters, but eulogised Mansir saying “Gwarama mai fofulation dinnan” (I prefer the one with ‘fofulation’) mocking the overbearing mother tongue in his pronunciation, marred by mother-tongue, but wonderful in presentations.

“He was a person of impeccable character, friend of all and enemy of none. We have really missed you Mansir . You are physically no more with us but your memory lives on. Allah ya lullubeka da Rahmarsa Ameen.

Tijjani Ibrahim, Ex-MACOSA President

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! We have lost someone who was a special part of us. His memories will forever be there to remind us the wonderful moments we shared. May Allah in his mercy grant him rest, may Allah (SWT) make him pass all the stages in Quabar and make Aljanna Firdaus his final abode. Allah yaji kanka Mansir Surajo.
SADIA BALA MUHAMMAD

While waiting to be called for the NYSC after a complete four years of hard work as students of mass communication, Bayero University Kano, the sudden demise of Mansir Surajo was one of the shocking incidents I had ever witnessed. Within the short acquaintance we had, I could tangibly say that the deceased was a humble, calm and dedicated student that had not only concentrated on his success alone, but also on helping others attain their academic goals.
Allahu  Akhbar, for, death awaits every living soul. We pray your thereafter supersedes your hereafter, may you dwell in Jannatul Firdaus and may He (Al Hayyu) forgive all your shortcomings, rest in eternal peace Mansur.

Amina Khalid Muhammad.

Indeed a great loss it is, Mansir Surajo is one of the people I met in my last days on campus. It was on a day when we were to stage a MOCK AGM, one of the requirements of our LEVEL 3 CA, myself and Mansir happened to be in the same group.  I got attracted to him because of his dedication, hardwork, and courage during that time, and since then we became friends.  What I can’t forget about this humble soul is the smile he always wears. We miss you dearly Mansir. May jannatul firdaus be your final abode.

Maryam Lawal Imam

The death of my course mate was a shock to me. I couldn’t sleep all night thinking of life itself. I tried very hard to answer certain questions about life, but couldn’t, then I realized that there is absolutely nothing in this life. Four years ago, he gained admission into Bayero University to study mass communication and like any other student; I know he was very excited. He read very hard and at the end of the day it paid off. Only for the cold hands of death to snatch him away just like that. My personal encounters with him were very limited, only at the class level, but I have always admired the fact that, he was quite humble and very intelligent. May your soul rest in perfect peace Mansir Surajo!

Fibi Ibrahim Koji

What I like most about his life were his ironical statements. For instance, whenever we were together, he used to say “I didn’t study hard this semester” or “I can’t do a vocal profession because I am not talkative”. But if you really study him, you will realise that he was a very hardworking student. He really used to study hard. If I could remember he was a 2.1 student. And he can fit into any vocal profession because he was very talkative. But all his statements were educative and encouraging. This really shows his humility, may his soul rest in peace.

Hassan Hamza, Rijiyar Zaki, Kano State

“You can keep the laptop with you Aisha it’s like you type faster than me. Kinga idan kika gama  sai ayi printing ayi submitting”. This was my final conversation with Mansir, may your gentle soul rest in perfect peace Amin.

Aisha Musa Umar

Saying hello is simply, saying goodbye is what hurt.  But still we have to admit the truth that you are gone. May Allah forgive all your sins and may you be among those who Allah would say to “I am pleased with you”, rest in peace friend.

 Bilkisu Idris

We love Mansir; but God loves him more. We’ll live to recall his memories. He’s a true friend and companion whose absence always creates vacuum that can be filled by none. May Allah grant him eternal rest, and for us and the family, the fortitude to bear the loss. Adieu Mansir Sirajo. Till we meet!

Aminu Adamu Naganye

These are few influxes of tributes that have continued to hit my email since I requested colleagues to write short words about their encounter with Mansir. You have gone, but coping with the reality of your demise is hard to explain. May God in his infinite mercy forgive your shortcomings; give your family, friends and course mates the fortitude to bear the loss. Rest in peace my brother, rest in peace!

Let me also used this medium to extend my condolences to Hajiya Amina Ismail, a staff of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) who resides in Kaduna for the loss of her sister in-law.

Hajiya Amina describes her sister in-law thus; “She was soft spoken, very accommodating, extremely patient, down to earth, very tolerant even with difficult characters, humble and extremely simple, she endures hardship and didn’t like talking too much. In fact, I didn’t meet a soul that had anything bad to say about Maryam, despite her soft-hearted nature, her children were raised well. I can go on and on Haruna”.

May their souls rest in peace!

Haruna Mohammed Salisu writes from Bauchi. He can be reach at 08063180608, @haruna_babale or harunababale@gmail.com