My hands are shaking with terribly and short of words as I never thought by now I could be compelled to write a tribute of a man who I first wrote an article entitled “Hon, Hassan Kadiri and The Finger of God” published in the Weekend Observer of May 9th, 2015. and less than a month, I am to write a tribute for such a person.
Though death is said to be inevitable and has no respect for age, wealth, religion and tribe but it will come when it will come and to whoever it chooses, for this sole reason, let us take solace in the hands of God and do our obligations irrespective of what we may think and feel about the death.
May 22nd, 2015 will again be another unforgettable day in my life as the news of the death of a man who I cherished so much came to me with a huge shock having discussed with him few days before his death. In life, there are certain memories that can never be forgotten easily in man’s life because they contain the lives of a dynamic and impact of individuals. Late Hon. Prince Barr Hassan Kadiri, former Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State was eventful in the lives of many people across the length and breadth of the local government whoever came in contact with the late chairman.
Hon Hassan means different thing to different people. To some he was an astute politician, dogged fighter, encourager, disciplinarian (action man), a leader, beckon/ source of hope, father, brother, uncle, history making man and man of the people. In whichever way, one may not be far from the truth as late Hassan was one in a million in people’s heart.
Men make their own history, but do not make it as they please, they do not make it under self-selected circumstance, but under circumstance existing already given and transmitted from the past. Hence, good people are hard to come by. The uncomfortable truth is that this world despises good people. Human beings have a natural instinct to either extinguish the spatter of lights that dot the almost tangible darkness around us, or cover it up, we are quick to kill the better people in our society or to drag them down into the mud with us, we are uncomfortable with the notion that some people can be good while we swim in our filth. We resent the notion of such arrogance, we don’t understand it, and so we destroy it.
Abel, Noah, Lot, Jesus and Mohammed are just a few names of people that men either tried to kill or did kill for the simple fact that they were better than the rest. In Jesus’ case, we even went as far as to accept the likelihood of a curse. It didn’t matter; all we wanted was for the man to be dead. The world hates good guys instead. Humanity has lost too many good people already. History is a relentless master; it has no present, only the past rushing into the future.
Late Hon. Hassan’s name was a household name in Edo state in general and Edo North in particular. He was a leader of leaders and a true leader at that because he commanded not from the rear, but he braced, with his chest the heat and the chill of all the Garter” of our contemporary politics “valiant and virtuous was full of haughty courage, such as was grown to credit by the wars, not fearing death nor stinking from distress, but always resolute in most extremes”.
Late Hon Hassan was unassuming leader, as modest as the dove, as temperate as the morning, for patience, he will prove a second Grissel, his words were bonds and his oaths were oracle, his truth was as the truth of Martin Lurther, his code of battle as mosaic as Malcolm X’s, to forerun woe with woe, his courage mounted with occasion and although he was not the war-mongering muckraker, yet he was one ready always to parley or to war as the occasion demands that is the stuff that courage is made of.
He has proved to us that every obstacle has odds to which it must yield and that may stroke. Though with a little axe will hew down and fall the hardest timbered-oak. Little did we know he was a prophet of his own time.
Yes, it is no longer news that Hon Hassan is no more with us on earth today to struggle for position/power, he has played his part either good or bad for the few periods he was given the opportunity. But the question still remains, will his death bring the change Auchi community think they needed, will his death bring the much needed political unity in the area and to know on how to speak with one voice as history will continue to go down in memory lane.
It is true that Nigerians honour the dead at the grave side instead of at the sick bed side to offer prayers to the sick, for those who were opportuned to witness the burial procession of the late chairman from his house to the Otaru’s palace will agree with me that it was like a carnival as stores were closed and major roads filled with people including commissioners, local government chairmen, party leaders, women and youths from within and outside the area. No matter the prayers and crowd one thing that is certain is Hon Hassan will never come back again.
It is a fact that not how long a man lived that matters but how well he lived. Of a truth, Hon Hassan lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation and he will be remembered for his contribution to the development of Etsako West local government. As a politician he was an excellent steward and visionary leader who had passion for his people. A man who lived a selfless, generous, philanthropic and passionate life dedicated to the service of his people
As today marks 40 days since the demise of erstwhile Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area, Hon. Hassan Kadiri, tributes have continued to pour in for a man who dedicated his life to the happiness and prosperity of others.
Mother Teresa once said that one can only find himself if he loses himself in the service of others. This is true with the late Chairman. His humble and accommodating disposition made it easy for people from all works of life to approach him with issues bothering them, and he always made out time to attend to them.
It is said that it is not how long we live that matters, but how well. Life on earth is not measured by the number of years we live, but the number of lives u touched.
It is said good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. This also reminded me of one of Bob Marley songs when you live for yourself you lived in vain but when you live for others you die to live again. Though he is dead but his name will continue to remain in our lips forever as he had lived his life for others.
For us this is not a sad ending it is but the beginning of a great beginning, let us do what is right so that when history gives its account of the death Hon Hassan it shall write that he lived up to his moral duties by doing what the moment required when he was alive.
While on earth as the chairman, Bar. Hassan Kadiri initiated and carried out groundbreaking projects in the local government council, regardless of ethnic or partisan politics
Hon. Prince Hassan Kadiri, a boisterous and politically sagacious lawyer, was elected to the office of the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). His death has been described by many as very sad and unfortunate. His demise is said to be a great loss to the people of Etsako in particular and Edo North in general.
Nevertheless, he was able to achieve what people who stay on earth for a hundred years could not achieve. his death is a monumental loss to us all
The 40 days celebration is a commemorative event that takes place forty days after the death of a Muslim. Many who spoke to the Nigerian Observer said it is a time to pay their last respect to a man who has touched their lives in unquantifiable measures.