I am still in shock and pain over the exit of Barrister Abdullahi Aliyu Idris Babangari. Few weeks ago, we prayed on the same praying mat with the Late Barrister at Mallam Bello Adamawy Mosque, Hayin Mallam Bello in fact, I arrived the mosque before him and he along his brother Architect Nuhu Aliyu Idris later joined me, I turned round to ask the Late Barrister whether he was strong enough to observe the Friday Prayer, because some hours ago, I left him on admission at M.S.K Specialist Hospital, Rigasa, Kaduna. He laughed and teased me by saying you know I am about to undergo a complicated surgery as such, I need serious prayers, especially today, Friday. I cannot afford to miss Friday prayers. Also, my brother, Nuhu, insisted to bring me for the Friday prayers which I will forever remain grateful to him.
Now, Abdullahi’s death is not only painful, he died at the tender age of 35 leaving behind his mother, wife and several sisters and brothers. Late Abdullahi Aliyu Idris, a graduate of law from Bayero University Kano, was briefly in private practice before joining Kaduna State Ministry of Justice. When Governor Nasiru El-Rufai requested for three brilliant lawyers to work with him at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Late Abdullahi was chosen. In fact, Kaduna state commissioner for justice cried like a baby, describing Abdullahi’s death as a great loss to Kaduna state and his family. Late Abdullahi, a deeply religious fellow, opened an Islamiyya school at El-Modern International School, Rigasa, owned by his elder sister Hajiya Aisha Aliyu. He also wrote Islamic books. When, my wife, Aisha, and Abdullahi’s sister opened his handset which has been with her since his operation, there were several posts by Abdullahi on the social media majorly talking about the virtues of Islam, his desire to make it to paradise, his advice for people to shun material things and his very deep messages for Muslim Ummah.
In fact, before his operation, he told his mother that if one is sure of getting paradise, one should not insist on remaining in this world that has nothing to offer but pain and other vices. Now let’s come to the painful aspect of Abdullahi’s death. When the hospital gave them a bill of over N2 million for first and second operations, Kaduna state commissioner for justice duly applied to the governor to release the money for the operation. But until his death about three months later, the file was still on the governor’s table, only to be approved after Abdullahi died. Secondly, this is the third time I witnessed the death of a patient at MSK Specialist Hospital. All the patients are very close to me, Abba Abu Rajab died in the hospital when I was around, Safiya Shehu Muhammad died in the hospital, Shehu’s wife and my wife are of the same mother and the same father, Shehu spent close to N3 million for his little daughter before she died and the third is Abdullahi.
Retired AVM Maisaka set up MSK Specialist Hospital in the remote part of Rigasa in Kaduna to help the poor, but is charging more than N2 million for cancer operation in the interest of the poor? Why is the hospital in a hidden place? Does the hospital have qualified doctors and modern equipment to handle complicated cases? I only know of one Doctor M.S.K Maisaka, few nurses and other staff that have no medical background. Kaduna State Ministry of Health should place visit M.S.K Specialist Hospital and verify what is happening there because people are dying there almost on daily basis. On the hospital’s signboard it is boldly written what and what the hospital offer as services, but in most cases when you take a patient there the hospital will charge you an amount of their choice and later look for doctors from hospitals elsewhere to handle the cases. Doctor Jimoh, a staff of ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria, who is a brain surgeon and operated late Abdullahi, is not a staff of MSK Specialist Hospital, Rigasa.
I have personally taken it upon myself on behalf of poor people dying in the hospital due to lack of competent medical personnel to find out more about the hospital and those behind the hospital because the proprietor retired as an air vice marshall from Medical Department of Nigeria Air force. As for Late Barrister Abdullahi, one can say for certain that he has finished well. In fact, people that turned out for his funeral were unprecedented in the history of burial in Layin Biliya Cemetery. He was religious, kind, humble and above all nobody has visited their family compound without illustrating his positive tributes. We members of his family that he left behind will continue to pray for him and be grateful to those who stood by us during the sad exit of the barrister. Kaduna state commissioner of justice did all she could as a leader and God will definitely bless her effort. Abdullahi’s immediate family and all those who assisted one way or the other during his sickness, may Allah bless all of them. He ended well and we hope he is resting in Aljannah Firdausi. Bye Barrister, till we meet to part no more.
Askira writes from Kano.
