TRIBUTE: GOOD NIGHT SANI KASSIM MAIDAMMA     

By: Balami Lazarus     

Growing up in Zaria as children and young men in our teens was interesting and full of fun that was some decades back then.     

Looking back recently I decided to do a long roll call of my close childhood friends and some peer groups. I found out that some of us are ‘missing’ on the list. And one such person was Sani Kassim Maidamma (SK). Aminu Suleman called and told me that Sani was no more.

I lacked what to say and sensed that he would end the call. We were living in the same neighbourhood where our parents were known to each other. Later, SK and I went to the primary school, All Saint Anglican Primary School Samaru- Zaria, one of the top rated primary schools now Saidu (LEA) Primary School.

SK and I were once in the same classroom, sitting on the same desk that was in class four (B) and we have always been together till we left in 1976 and our friendship continues to his last days on mother earth after a protracted illness.     

It is therefore necessary for me to write this piece as a remembrance of SK. He was one among our very good childhood friends for those of us that were close to Sani Kassim. SK, I do remember when you were the Secretary of Sabon Gari (Zaria) Local Government Council where you touched lives in terms of employment, contracts and charity.

I recalled your visit to our former primary school where you made promises in your capacity as Sole Administrator of Basawa Area Development Council and you fulfilled them.   

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I thanked you for your kind gesture whenever I visited you in your office at the secretariat. It was always a plus to my pocket or my car tank. To tell you how good SK was, when I informed 

Audu Dachar of his death was downcasted and what came out of him. “Oh my God! Sani was a good guy.” Really being good is associated with late SK.

He was nice to anyone that came into contact with him. Your heart was a synecdoche of your whole when you were here with us.     

SK had a chrisma that attracted people to him. His house was a rallying point for some of us. It was my first point of call once I was in Zaria before reaching my parent’s house. This has no doubt has to do with your very large kind heart SK.

I also glee in my heart  when we close from school. I will follow you  home and Iya will make sure I eat something no matter how little it was before proceeding home with a warning as usually not to play around with dead tractors by the side of your house.   

 We share some things incommon with SK, he was stout, well- built, dark in complexion, fearless, down- to- earth and a lover of books. SK was a footballer, that is where we slightly parted ways in interest. I was more on the adventurous side of life as a boy- snakes hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, swimming ( bridge diving) and hiking. That was me as a boy.     

As a good footballer, SK played for the defunct Samaru United Football Club and A.B. U. Workers Football Club.     My good childhood friend and brother Sani Kassim Maidamma, your baritonic voice stands out and I always felt flattered when you addressed me as  Don Lazarus either directly or on the phone. I missed you .     

Before the black- out, SK was an Editor for Hotline NewsMagazine Kaduna, Teacher, Lecturer, politician and was a PhD student with Faculty of Administration, Department of Local Government Studies Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

He was once with Aminiya of Daily Trust Newspaper Abuja. SK died on the 30th May 2017 at the National Hospital. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. May Allah grant him Al Janna Firdaus. Ameen.

Balami, a Publisher/ Columnist.     08036779290

TRIBUTE: GOOD NIGHT SANI KASSIM MAIDAMMA