Re: Dogged and Kindhearted Gimba: Celebrating Four Decades of Bosom Friendship
By Prof. MK Othman
In my over thirty years of academic life, I have written more than 200 scholarly papers (journals, conference proceedings, workshops, etc.) and authored and edited some books. Now, writing as a pseudo-journalist, I found one fundamental difference between the two writings. In academic writing, you can finish the paper before formulating the title, but in journalistic writing, the title is the key and starting point that attracts readers. In my piece above, the Blueprint Newspaper editor removed the words “dogged” and “celebrating.” Rereading the article, I found that, aside from Hassan’s strange transformation from a science-focused student to an intelligent journalist, educator, mentor, and writer of socioeconomic and political affairs, my description of Hassan did not warrant him being labeled as “dogged.” Well, Dr. Hassan Gimba is a dogged personality in all ramifications. As I write this piece, Hassan is on a spiritual and medical trip to Saudi Arabia. Hassan has faced health challenges with heart in the last three years but has not been noticed in his daily activities. Every week, Hassan writes his column and reads his “Arbiter” television scripts even on a hospital bed without a break. Many people in his position would have disappeared from the scene, but Hassan moves on with renewed confidence and tenacity sagaciously. May Allah make Hassan recover quickly, Amen.
His benevolent life and endeared vocation ascend as the noose is tied to people’s necks. He keeps dishing out help sustainably to people in all directions. You trust Nigerians; they don’t allow his phone to rest, nor do they allow him to sleep. You can’t dissuade Hassan from attending to people as they bring their basket of requests; he may not meet all their expectations but may comfort them with his soothing words and counseling, which would renew their hope for a better tomorrow. When you meet Hassan with your gloomy face, you leave him while smiling; I wonder what his magic wand is. That is vintage Hassan!
Another area of doggedness is his stubborn belief in one Nigeria; in his column “Arbiter,” his determination to fight for the rights of the oppressed people is unambiguous. As mentioned by His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, Yobe state governor, in a Forward of a book written by Hassan, “The Arbiter,” he said, “His (Hassan’s) passion for fighting for the rights of the downtrodden and his stand for truth, fairness and justice ring out loud and clear, as he addresses the salient issues of leadership and the need for good governance, among several others.”
As expected, my piece attracted comments from my readers. I wish to share some of them with my esteemed readers for clarity. Happy Reading.
Dear Prof Othman,
Real friends are the ones you can count on, no matter what. The ones who go into the forest to find you and bring you home. You don’t always have to ask for help. True friends will look for you as soon as you wander off your path. As proof of the enduring power of genuine friendship, Dr. Hassan Gimba is, in fact, one of my mentor’s closest friends.
We will always be grateful for your hospitality, and you will continue to be in our prayers and thoughts. Dr. Hassan Gimba, your selfless acts of kindness and unwavering support are deeply appreciated. May Allah continue to bless you, Sir.
On the marriage of Bar Suleiman and his bride, May Allah bless your family, Amen.
Yusuf Abdullahi Kakale
It is the most genuine friendship I have ever heard in my reality. May God guide your journey and bless your families, Amen.
Mujaheed Aliyu
Prof M.K. Othman, what a great and enduring friendship nurtured by a mutual love for penmanship. What an enduring, amicable, and selfless attitude! Congratulations to both of you. I hope it extends to your families. Good friendship is well nurtured by mutual love, respect, and honesty. What a shining example to be emulated!
Professor Rabiu Adamu
Such friendship rarely exists now, Sir, and where you see one, sustainability is a problem. But because the friendship is built on sincerity of purpose and cultivated on realism, you live to enjoy that associateship with age till death. We are indeed privileged to witness and be a part of such a genuine friendship. May God continue to bless your relationship, Amen.
Dr. Mohammed Makeri
That is an excellent relationship, and I pray that your children will continue in the same trend. Amen.
Alhaji Abdulhamid Bugaje
A classical testimony that scholars and true friends should emulate. It will cement age-long relationships that could be sustained in an unbreakable chain. The pioneer link between parents has become history; now, Hassan Gimba and our amiable professor are the parents. One of our sons just got married, and the link should be re-enforced and fortified through uniting the children in marriage bonds, business, education, religion, and whatever the experienced friends “Hassan Gimba and MK Othman” could add value to this Nobel prize relationship. I wish both families a long life and good health until you play football or squash with your children (GGC). IN SHA ALLAH
Engr. Hassan Bawa
It is an endearing tribute to a brother without any blood lineage. That is a beautiful acknowledgment. So pure. So honest. And what is recently ebbing among us? May Allah continue to bless the relationship
Prof A. A. Babajo
It’s excellent, Prof., to remember those people who matter in our lives. We still need this in the modern family system, where parents build tall barbed fences and bar friends of their children from access, as you did during your time.
I hope today’s parents will learn one or two lessons about how a long-lasting friendship is built and its impact on creating the bonds of a strong family and communal social relationship.
Prof. Sani Isiaku
Re: Dogged and Kindhearted Gimba: Celebrating Four Decades of Bosom Friendship