By Tukura Matthew
The recent demise of elder –statesman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana, received thunderous outpouring of grief and mourning from Nigerians , particularly his class and school mates , administrators , politicians and those who yarn for justice and fair play .
His death was described as ‘’ a big bird flown out of town’’, or the bombing of Hiroshima or hit of a dynamite. This is because Alhaji Kana was a good man and anywhere he went he was doing good and remained a good man till his last breath on earth.
Soft spoken , he lived a life of a true philanthropist . An encounter with him leaves you with nothing short of an everlasting impression of a man who saw education as light and used it as a weapon for the emancipation of the down trodden.
At Government Teachers College Keffi, Kana distinguished himself in academics and a leader to watch. He won many academic prizes. His brilliant academic performance earned him the name ‘’College Linguist ’’ and after graduation in Keffi he was given the position of Head-master and posted to Gurku.
Speaking at his residence in Keffi his childhood friend and school mate at TC Keffi , Alhaji Suleiman Ubana said every Friday Kana organized some students and went to General Hospital now Federal Medical Centre Keffi to greet patients and prayed for their quick recovery. Till his last breath Alhaji Kana spent not less than five thousand naira every Friday feeding those who visit his residence. ‘’ He is a friend, an in-law and class-mate .We grew up together’’
Also speaking at his residence Anguwar Tiv Keffi, Nasarawa State former Commissioner for Women Affairs , Hon Musa Owuna who was also his close confidant has this to say “when Kana was the admission officer he made sure all qualified candidates who sat for examination into secondary schools, Teachers Colleges or tertiary institutions were admitted. He facilitated my admission into the University of Jos. He was a nice man who gave helping hands to those that came across him’’.
In school, Elder Kana was both an elder brother and senior to the junior ones and treated them with soft hands. Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura and Abdulkarim Mohammed and others found succor under his care because they were his boys and juniors in TC Keffi.
In history, great men are ordinary people who did extra ordinary things that make their names bigger than their physical size. The Karl Marx, Madelas, Thomas Sankaras, Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Julius Nyerere etc.
The efforts they made positively changed the society for better. Alhaji Abubakar Kana belongs to this category. His name Kana gotten from his country home Kana is a poster that needs no introduction and it rings a bell .
Like the mustard seed the name has been watered and grown to the point that it is a household name in Afo land , Nasarawa State and the country at large. Almost all the villagers from ‘’ Kana Village’’ bear the name Kana for the favor attached to it.
In those days the feudal lords sent tax collectors to the natives and appointed District –Heads to rule over their affairs. Kana was not comfortable with the system and fought it to a standstill. This created a lot of problems for him. He teamed up with others and fought the native authority system of administration to the point that he was seen as ‘’a stubborn young man.’’ He was invited to one of the royal palaces for his ‘’stubborn attitude’’ and was almost flogged but for the intervention of a learned Islamic scholar who said young Kana was saying the right thing and therefore, set him free. Alhaji Kana throughout his life time was a determined, courageous and fearless man.
According to Alhaji Suleiman Ubam, Kana was one of those who coined the slogan ‘’Emancipation to the people‘’ of late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar’s administration in the then Plateau State.
He championed the emancipation of Afo people in both Keffi and Nasarawa local government areas of Nasarawa State.
‘’Every weekend , Kana was always home to see the well being of his people . In one of those weekends on his way back to Jos, he had a serious Motor –Cycle accident that almost sniffed life out of him but God saved him . He was unseen hand that gave financial support for the creation of Nasarawa State.
His emancipation struggle started yielding results when the first indigenous District-Head was appointed for Kokona District in 1968.
The Elder Statesman during his life time had a long walk and travelled the hard way for the freedom of the down-trodden. As the legend reggae star Jimmy Cliff sang ‘’I have a hard road to travel and a rough way to go but I can’t turn back , my heart is fixed my mind is made up , I will never stop, my faith will see me through.” (Hard Road to Travel – song by Jimmy Cliff)
He did menial jobs to support his education pursuit. He participated in labor work during the construction of Abuja –Keffi road in 1960s.
Indeed the statesman denied himself comfort for the good of all. When there was students riot at Government Secondary School Nasarawa on January 26, 1980, the then Commissioner for Education in the then plateau State Mr Joshua Gamde Garkawa sent him to the school as Principal and was there for few years and brought normalcy in the school. The immediate past Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong and former Deputy –Governor of Nasarawa State, late Damishi Luka Barau, ADC to former Atiku Abubakar, Musa Yari were among his students.
When there was financial scandal at the Plateau State Scholarship Board, late Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma recommended him to be moved to the Board as the Secretary to sanitize the place, he was there and saved a lot of money. It was during his time that Plateau State Government sent the highest number of students that studied abroad because there was money for the sponsorship. The Government was so pleased with him and approved some money for him to tour any part of the world for relaxation but Kana declined the offer.
He was tipped for Plateau State Secretary, Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) during the second republic but declined the offer, the position was later given to Saidu Baba Toto. In 1980 he was also nominated as Hon. Minister during accord of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) with Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) and still turn down the offer. Same was his refusal for Keffi Local Government chairmanship.
By 1983, he was nominated as a candidate, Federal House of Representatives Lagos yet declined and was replaced by late Hon. Isa Ahmed from Kokona.
Elder Kana lived an honest life devoid of any scandal. He often warned his children and those close to him to shun ill-gotten wealth that ends in shame.
His eldest son who is the current General Manager (GM) Nasarawa State Water Board, Ahmad Kana said, “our father had no inordinate lust for material things. When we (his children) were making arrangement to fly him abroad for treatment, he turned down the offer and said we should use the money contributed to train our children, that is his grand-children.
Before his exit Kana told his eldest son that he was a fulfilled man, he was not indebted to any person or bank. On the day he died, as early as 6 am he put calls to all his children and their wives to know about their well-being and as usual warned them against primitive accumulation of wealth and its consequences and urged them to maintain the good name of the family.
Interestingly, elder Kana is a product of both blind parents but fought challenges and rose to the top despite all odds.
He was the pioneer commissioner for education in Nasarawa State, pioneer Registrar, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Chairman, Teachers Service Commission among many positions he held. He was among the pioneer set that started NYSC scheme in 1973. Alhaji Kana had one well pronounced traditional title ‘’ the Danmasanin Afo’’
Among his children are the current General Manager Nasarawa State Water Board, Engineer Ahmad Kana, Federal Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defesce, Dr Ibrahim Kana, the immediate Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice now National Legal Adviser, All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, Director College of Health Technology Kaduna, Professor Musa Abubakar Kana, Maryam Kana is a staff with Nigerian Television Authority, Abdulrahaman Abubakar Kana works with the Federal University Lafia, Yusuf Abubakar Kana is with the National Haji Commission of Nigeria Abuja, Captain Adamu Abubakar Kana is with the Nigeria Army Lagos and Shamsudeen Abubakar Kana works with National War College, Abuja.
Late Alhaji Abubakar Kana is survived by his beloved wife Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Kana, a retired Matron of Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
All the children live a life manifesting the upbringing they received from their father.
May his soul continue to rest in peace.
Tukura, former Secretary NUJ Nasarawa State Chapter works with Ministry of Information, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
