By Nourah Bamalli
THE shock and effect of the death of Alhaji Sani Dahiru Yakasai, popularly referred to as SDY on Thursday, March 9, 2023, after a protracted illness, is still fresh and devastating in my mind and also in the minds of so many family members and friends, despite the fact that every life must test the bitterness of death. No death is therefore early and none is late.
Some 59 years ago, around 1964, when we started primary education in our Yakasai community, my relationship with SDY started and continued until death do us apart.
A humble and easy-going gentleman, SDY remained focused and determined in life as he was never distracted by the gains and possessions of others, but by his portion of engagement Allah Has provided for him. He worked hard throughout his life and was not only obedient to his parents at every point in time, by always living and working as they wished but also would never take any decisions without their input and blessings.
In some cases, SDY involved some of the friends he revered into his activities, seeking their inputs and contributions, of which he included me, for reasons best known to him. While growing up, we visited each other in our family homes, where we dined and played together. I remember one day, in their family house, we were arguing with him, on who amongst us was senior or junior, in the presence of Hajiya, his mother. She stepped in and said I was older, and she supported her argument by calculating the years and months each one of us was born and moreover coincidentally she was a friend to my mother. Jokingly, she cautioned SDY to be wary! Nonetheless, his physical size compared to my miniature made the argument to continue, until now when it is no longer necessary to argue, with the other party gone! May Allah SWT forgive Alhaji Sani, amin.
From his humble beginning as a private Contractor/Supplier in WRECA and other Government agencies to owning one of the biggest indigenous civil and engineering construction businesses in Kano State, SDY Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd, and property acquisitions and other diversifications in his businesses, SDY would find time to update me and would take the efforts, whenever I was in Kano, to take me around any new accomplishment. We always involved each other in both our personal and general activities, including the choices of our spouses and the activities of our respective families. With his death I have now missed forever, the chorus of our special greetings to each other, anytime we met physically or on phone. While I addressed him as “Ya Hajj”, he would return with “Ya Alhaji Mallam Nourah!” and other engagements would follow! Our meetings or even phone calls must always be prepared, because we would take the whole day either in my house or his office to discuss and inspect projects or speak for hours on phone during long absences, in an effort to catch up.
He entrusted me with the education of his children as their guardian, and, Alhamdulillah, none of them disappointed me concerning their academic progress. They are now academically sound as graduates from international educational institutions, and have virtually taken over majority of his businesses, where they are introducing new and modern concepts and diversification, under the support and guidance of their uncle Alhaji Aminu Dahiru and their elder brother Kamalu Sani Dahiru. I recall when Kamalu was born, SDY had always appreciated and respected one top Islamic Cleric, by name Sheikh Kamaludden, who in the 70s was preaching on Radio Kano, and was the Headmaster of an Islamic School attended by SDY then. SDY admired the man so much and he named his first son after the Sheikh, who is also late long time ago. May his soul continue to rest in peace, Amin!
Like all great men, SDY was termed as a complicated character to some people, who could not define him or understand his purposes in life. The truth about him is that right from childhood, SDY understood where he was coming from and the direction of his target, and under no condition or circumstances would he compromise on his mission! He built his wisdom from his Islamic teachings, the guidance he received regularly from his parents and friends and the experiences that he went through in life. He kept reminding me always of a Hausa proverb – “Wanda a ka daka ya yi hankali, ya fi wanda a ka haifa da shi!” and we would laugh over its apparent and perceived lessons!
SDY was patient in everything he did and never in a hurry to consummate any deal, until he considered all the risk factors and became absolutely satisfied, even though certain business assumptions would fail the test! He had no sentiments or emotions when it came to businesses, and would clearly demarcate personal and business transactions and treat each as appropriate. Ya Hajj, as I addressed him, led a simple life, with no show-off or extravagance, and never felt the need to brag or compete with anyone, he believed everyone had their own paths to follow. In his simplicity, I had never seen him being chauffer driven, preferring always to drive himself. And in doing so, SDY was such a cautious driver, who would never overspeed or drive in a hurry, but would take his time and drive so carefully, as if KAROTA was right behind him! As a result, the history of his driving was a huge success.
Although everyone defined SDY as a stupendously rich man, and indeed, no doubt about it, but he brought up his children in the most decent way ever, teaching them to work hard and “catch the fish”, pursue both religious and western education, side by side, and earn a living like everyone, not ever to rely on his wealth, but should observe and take advantage of his guidance, contacts and experiences, to ease their learning curves. And he has succeeded in this arrangement, as the kids, now men of prosperity, are already hitting the ground running! Alhaji Sani valued relationships and had kept all childhood friends and neighbors closely, with many under his payroll and several others benefitting from his generosity and welfare. Whenever you sit with him at home or office, you would be amazed by the number of people who come to pay their respect to him, especially during an event in the family, and he would call each and everyone by their names and would relate with each individually, indicating the respect and care he gave all and sundry!
One strong quality SDY possessed was his great ability to control and manage his emotion and anger! I had never seen him raised his voice above reasoning on anyone, even the hangers-on around him, although he could be as firm and uncompromising as possible in a business deal or on issues that failed his litmus tests, still one could hardly ever notice his anger or displeasure. I would ask him how he was managing all these intrusions and disturbances, SDY would simply smile it away and say people just must be treated according to their levels. He was always so humble and submissive to the Wills of Allah SWT, which became obvious during the trying periods of the deaths of his two wives and father, where he had shown the full and firm believe that only Allah SWT gives and takes! In our relationship, we had supported each other right from the beginning and continued until death, and now looking forward to continue with his offspring from where he ceased, In Sha Allah.
It is so reassuring to notice that SDY died in the night of Friday and his Jana’iza was attended by thousands of his well wishers and highly placed individuals of authority, all supported by the highly positive complementary remarks which followed in the several social media groups and platforms, in which everyone was wishing and praying for Allah’s Mercy on him and his family. All these are great indications of the quality of a humble person who we pray will enjoy a lasting blissful and successful life in the Hereafter, In Sha Allah.
I have indeed lost a friend, a huge support and good advisor to me and family, while the humanity at large has lost a philanthropist, employer of labour and a great father to his children!
Bamalli wrote from Yakasai Quarters in Kano City.