By MUHAMMAD GARBA
I saw many calls put to me shortly after completing the circumambulation of the Ka’aba. As I scrolled down my phone, one of the calls was from the phone of late Surayya followed by that of His Excellency, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. I immediately returned the calls of my boss who broke the shocking news to me and directed that I should find out the situation . Indeed, I was devastated.
First, I returned the calls from the phone of late Surayya and a gentleman responded and said he was one of the passages involved in the accident and eventually confirmed her death.
Then, I reached out to the chairman of the Kogi state chapter of the APC, Hon. Abdullahi Bello who though, was in Lagos at the time, but made frantic effort to establish the actuality of the situation. Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo was informed about the incident, and in shock, mandated his Special Adviser on Security, Commander Jerry Omadara (rtd) to also mobilize to the scene of the accident.
However, unknown to all those touched by this tragic incident, Dr. Ganduje had already sent a team of security agents and officials who took charge and collected her remains from the scene of the accident and took it to Abuja from where it was conveyed to Kano for burial.
Surayya Aminu, popularly known as Sai Mama, died in a ghastly motor accident on Saturday, October 12, 2024, on her way to Akure, the Ondo state capital. The accident occured few kilometers after Kabba, about 143 kilometres away from the Kogi state capital, Lokoja and 657 kilometres from Kano where she started the journey. Only she and the driver died in the fatal accident. The other occupants of the vehicle sustained various degrees of injury.
She was pleasant and friendly. She was one of the most popular women in Kano political landscape, particularly among the All Progressives Congress (APC) faithful. Many will remember her beaming smile she always wore on her face that unveiled her to many.
She was a committed, honest and loyal supporter of my principal, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje since he became Kano state deputy governor in 1999. In fact, it was her unshaken loyalty that informed her decision to remain with him up till her last breath.
I want to share with you three recent incidents that happened which clearly demonstrated the level of her commitment , compassion and loyalty to our leader and the party in general.
She was in Abuja on the day the Supreme Court was to deliver judgement on the case of Kano gubernatorial election. Surayya was full of confidence on the possible outcome of the court ruling in view of the success of our party at the Kano Election Petition Tribunal and later the Court of Appeal.
She joined other party faithful at the airport to board a plane to kano for the swearing in of the new Governor. Unfortunately, even before she boarded, report reached her that the Apex Court had delivered it’s verdict in favour of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). She was extremely shocked. Surayya collapsed there. I was informed about the sad development by the treasurer of the APC in Kano. I made sure that she was taken to the hospital where she was resuscitated.
The second scenario was when she met one of the NNPP stalwarts in Ondo state with whom she had time to extensively discuss about politics. In the course of their encounter, she convinced him to join the APC. She was very delighted at it, so she took him to the national headquarters of our party where he met the chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Few days later, to her surprise, she came to know that the man only contradicted himself and was seen with leader of the NNPP, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. Upon hearing this, she was so devastated and also collapsed.
She remained very committed to anything that revolved around His Excellency. A very interesting third scenario which played out and showed this commitment was the issue Kano Emirates tussle. After His Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero was declared removed by the NNPP government and his subsequent relocation to Gidan Nassarawa, hundreds of people daily troop to the palace to express their support and loyalty for him. Surayya would cook food and distributed it free to the people who gathered at the Royal House in her personal way of expressing support for the Emir and His Excellency who appointed him.
Surayya was a trained teacher and had taught at Rimi City Primary School in Kano Municipal local government. She was a proud teacher with many of her pupils now occupying various positions in public and private sector. I have seen many condolences by her old pupils. She was a children lover and was a radio/presenter of children programmes.
She was energetic and a practical politician. We became very much in touch when Governor Ganduje appointed her as Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation. Surayya was a persistent mobilizer. I recalled her contributions toward women mobilisation beyond the period of political campaigning.
Her transition from a teacher to a politician must have been a mark of her capacity to access opportunities and help others who came her way. She has been credited with the accomplishments of the Ganduje administration in Kano state, in terms of women mobilisation which demonstrated her dedication and commitment.
She might not be counted as national figure in the APC, and even members of the National Working Committee (NWC ) of the party might not know her physically, but she was a foot soldier for the party. She had contributed in the successes recorded during the conduct of the off season elections held in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states where APC won the two and lost in Bayelsa. She performed wonderfully well in mobilizing the Hausa communities living in those states to vote for APC.
The outpouring of condolences over her death, the mammoth crowd that gathered during her burial rites indicate how well she relate with all shades of politicians in Kano and beyond.
One doesn’t need to know her closely to discern her accomplishments. Although, in the contemporary Nigerian situation, high placed government officials always enjoy glowing tributes, this tribute to Surayya is more on account of recognition of her contributions to humanity.
We will all miss her a lot. For me, coming from the same constituency, Kano Municipal, I will always miss her company. We share a lot on how to move forward our party and Kano in general. She never hesitated to approach me on issues that related to our party members, particularly women.
However, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will miss her most. When he become the national chairman, he appointed her as his special assistant. She had been his very reliable companion. During electioneering campaign, she undertook background checks on aspirants, their chances of winning or otherwise, made predictions on possible outcomes of elections, and gave His Excellency a live situation report, among others.
We will remember her as an amazing woman who made a remarkable impact in society and touched the lives of many people who knew her. Her death is a sad loss to us in Kano state, and particularly the APC family, because she was a symbol of courage and a great example for women politicians.
We pray Allah in His Infinite mercy to accept grant her Aljannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant ease to the hearts of the family and friends who grieve her loss.
Muhammad Garba /former commissioner of Information and COS to the APC National Chairman
