Immediately I concluded on writing this tributary piece about the newly installed Onizeiza (Dan Amana) of Ebiraland, Alhaji Abubakar Imam Abdulrahim, a commensurable adage that when a lion brings forth a cub it’s expected to hunt quickly struck my mind.
This adage therefore inherently and aptly implies that greatness, faultlessness, superbness,primeness, supremacy and excellency are transcendentally generational in the family the newly turbaned Dan Amana (Onizeiza of Ebiraland) discernible from the avowed fact that his grandfather, the late Sheikh Imam Yahaya Tajudeen was once an appointed imam of Ebiraland.
Thus, his installation and subsequent turbaning I believe would never be something that will catch any Ebira son or daughter that is well informed with the knowledge of the accomplishment and fulfilment of the Imam’s family off guard, because greatness people say begets greatness.
Great men are indeed rare, they are not mined or polished just like gold; so Ebiraland should count itself fortunate to have a great man in Alhaji Abubakar Imam Abdulrahim as its illustrious son.
Alhaji Abubakar Imam Abdulrahim was never at anytime too desperate for greatness, because it’s already abound in his paternity. What he always seeks for is the truth, and in seeking for the truth, he struck gold with both greatness and truth; which thus makes him as unarguably the most deserved recipient of the title of Onizeiza of Ebiraland.
The Onizeiza of Ebiraland, Alhaji Abubakar Imam Abdulrahim knows and understands that honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom and greatness, and that half a truth is a whole lie. This accounts for one of the reasons he always remains steadfast and stay true to what is eternally and universally agreed to be truth and just.
Yes, Success in life is not for those who run fast, but for those who keep running and always on the move. Thus, achievement is no hocus-pocus, rather It’s focus, focus! Problem solvers are always compatible, optimized and ahead. They are achievers, accomplisers and not complainers. Complainers are always incompatible, unoptimized and behind; they are arrant losers.h
These and many more have been the rarefied and uncommon traits, auras, predilections and proclivities of the newly conferred Dan Amana.
He has remained diligent, effective and efficient man right from his young days during his compulsory NYSC scheme, an attribute that necessitated his retainment at Lakeside Estate Company Limited, where he served as a youth corps member, and later got employed as the firm’s manager from 1998-2002.
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He is a firm believer of Youth development, who always develops theirs skills, connect with them to take part in society, and reach their potential.
Abu Imam always finds solace in adding importance, value and significance to the life of others, as he constantly inspires them to reach their peak in life.
Many young people out there, especially from his Ebiraland country home revere, venerate,adore and admire him as their mentor, the reason he had scooped several awards such as, Kwame Nkrumah leadership Award,
IPCR/UNDP Youth Award – 2007-2008,
UNESCO peace Award as Ambassador of Peace,
National Association of Ebira Students Awards as a Mentor to the youths,
Youth Federation for World Peace – as Youth Ambassador for Peace
The pan African transparent leadership center awarded him the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah gold award for leadership, in recognition of his exemplary antecedents and transparent virtues,
Most Supportive Personality by Ebira Carnival Award,
Award for Meritorious Service in International Peace by Rotary Club, District 9130,
Ohueje Ohinoyi Ebira cultural heritage festival, awarded him as cultural ambassador for his contributions and commitment to the empowerment of women and youth towards the progress of Ebiraland,
Ebira Community Secondary School Old Students alAssociation award and several other accolades.
As a quinquagenarian, who was born in the early 70s, Alhaji Abubakar Imam is one of the grand children of Sheikh Imam Yahaya Tajudeen, the officially appointed Chief IMAM of Ebiraland of blessed memory.
His puissance of western knowledge began when he attended the Native Authority Primary school (NA) from 1976 – 1982, then enrolled into Abdul Azeez Atta Memorial College for his secondary school education between 1982 – 1987.
Having obtained his first degree in economics from the prestigious Bayero University in Kano (between 1992 – 1998), Alhaji Abubakar Imam thereafter proceeded to bag his Master’s Degree in Political Economy and Social Development from the University of Abuja.
Alhaji Abubakar Imam boasts of a strong religious background where the teaching of the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW) and fear of Allah remain the guiding principles.
Right from his early age, he was acculturated with the values of honesty, hardworking, and discipline,integrity and unwavering service to humanity.
These remain the hallmark and legacy of his family who are notable Islamic scholars in Ebiraland and beyond.
He marries Hajiya Saidat Obadaki Imam, and blessed with five beautiful children,
Imam Ali-assad
Imam Omar-sudais
Imam Othman-fawaz
Fatima-Nadia Iman and
Yasmin-Zainab Imam.
Alhaji Abubakar Imam is undoubtedly a bastion of truth, and it’s heartwarming that his conferment as the Onizeiza of Ebiraland is coinciding with a time when our contemporary society has become bereft,bereaved and orphaned of truth because of partisanship and humongous poverty.
In deed lies run sprints, while truth runs marathon. Lies are the darkness that ghosted when the light of truth appears. Onizeiza,
Alhaji Abubakar Imam
the light of the light that chases away the darkness of lies in our Ebiraland.
All hail Onizeiza (Dan Amana) of Ebiraland, Alhaji Abubakar Imam.
Congratulations Sir
Ozumi Abdul is a journalist at PRNIGERIA and columnist at Arewa Trust Newspaper. He can be reached via [email protected]
