Awwal Shanono: A Painful Exit - The
Barbaric, Uncultured Behaviours In Nigeria
16 June 2011
By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega
Darkness has once again beclouded my pious, but, sad
heart, when I sat down to write this tribune again, to
a bosom friend and brother whose lives was cut short
by the barbaric and uncultured behaviours of our
countrymen and women in far away Ibadan, the Oyo state
Capital. It was 8.30 pm around Maitama area on the 6th
June, 2011, when I receive a call that Awwal is
missing in Ibadan, and probably death. I begin to
readjust my brain to get the true picture of what it
will look like. And Bilkisu later call me to inform me
that, Awwal was death. My first reaction was; is it
the cult guys or who? The Awwal I know is a shy and
quite person…….. The only thing I can say to myself is
why Awwal? But, immediately, readjust my thinking
before I lose my faith as a Muslim, that sometime,
thing are rather predestine by Allah the Creator of
all humans and the world is nothing but a temporal and
flitting for us to spend our time killing ourselves
because of some egotism and selfish desire.
Awwal Shanono until his murdered was the National
President of National Association of Medical Student
of Nigeria. Since assumption of office late last year,
Awwal has introduced innovative scheme that not only
reinvigorated the body within six month; but,
organized programmes and projects that have captured
national attention. One of such programme was the
World Medical Students Day, last December that
attracted students from all over the world. Awwal is
not only my personal friend; but, also a close member
of the family. Whenever, he found himself in Abuja in
one of their various meeting with their sponsors and
consultation with related health ministries and
parastatals; he always take delight in hanging around
the house, even when hotel reservations were made in
his name. These were periods of intellectual and
religious discussion which seriously enriched my
knowledge of the medical profession.
Awwal was a young man with a prosperous future. A
medical doctor in the making. Awwal is everyone
delight, as he marshals his view and projection about
his medical stuff and life in general, whenever we had
the time to discuss issues in this land of lost
opportunity. The death of Awwal has deprived Nigeria
the services of a young man whose ambition is to
contribute his emerging medical experience in saving
lives and human development. The passion for service
to God Almighty and humanity was what drives the young
man to study medicine in the first place at Ahmadu
Bello University Zaria. This passion and zeal was what
took him to Ile Ife in Osun state to hold rally,
symposium/ lectures that was aimed at creating
awareness on the dangers of Child Mortality and
maternal health. This was his last contribution to
mother Nigeria, when he and his colleagues ran into
blooding fighting among the two factions of the
National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ibadan.
Unfortunately, Awwal was not that lucky like some of
his colleagues who are alive to tell the story, as he
felt to one of the bullet of these miscreants while
passing by enroute to Kaduna. The painful aspect of
the whole shenanigan is that, the thugs took
possession of the body and burnt it beyond recognition
to avoid the trace of his whereabouts. But, God
willing his body was recognized by his friend through
the ring that he wares in his left finger. It is
unfortunate, that, those who did what they did really
could not understand nor appreciate the struggles the
young man has to undergo before attaining this faith.
Just like a joke, a good for nothing tout with no
future ambition shot this promising young man to his
early grave.
There is no doubt, in our dear country life of human
being has no value and can be taking away through
various means. You will agree with me that we are
living copses walking the various streets, cities and
villages of Nigeria. This is because; someone cannot
tell what is there for him/her. From happy policeman
with his accidental discharged bullet, to hit and run
road accident or someone runs into ethnic or religious
cleansing or madness, just like the misfortune that
visited my brother Awwal. This country has descended
so low; where the lives of God Precious creation have
no value. The growing discontent among Nigerians is
making us to lose our humanism in us; as we begin to
struggle on each other throats. It is really
unfortunate, that, politics and politicians have
created more problems for us than solving one. One
imagines how many likes of Awwals have lost their
lives in such circumstances without remorse from the
Nigerian state. This is really a jungle island. A land
of everything goes. What amazed me was the general
disquiet in the media over the death of this young
promising medical doctor; if not because of anything
but, for the office and the institution he represent.
Out of curiosity, with a heavy pain in my heart, I
say, to myself, let me see the reaction of the
newspapers on the issue visa-vie the upheaval that
greeted the death of Youth Corpers during the post
election violent in northern Nigeria. To my surprise
only the Dailytrust newspaper reported the news with
an in-dept analysis of what happen. I can only say, to
myself, this is a nation that is run on hypocrisy;
that is why; we are saddled with hypocrite and
carefree leaders. The upheaval that greeted the death
of youth corpers members generated so much tension in
this country; that most of us that wrote on the issues
were branded as terrorist or inhuman etc, because we
kick against the overemphasis of instead of death of
all Nigerians irrespective of affiliation. But, the
youth Corp members' death was use as an alibi to hit
at northern as barbaric and inhuman creatures.
The media blackout of the information, show the role
of media in creating mischief and setting us against
ourselves. I wonder if this episode happens in the
Northern region and Awwal happen not to be from the
North; the whole media could have carry a different
captured to portrait the brutality of the northern
extremist or jihadist or almajiris. I hold no brief or
looking for any sympathy or apology; am only making a
point how hypocritical we have become in our choice of
news reporting or demonization. I know whatever, media
report such coverage will gain will not return my
brother and chief medical director as I use to call
him in the making; because I know, I myself, am just
on a pathway to the next world and my faith have
already been sealed either a peaceful death or that of
brutal one like Awwal. But, we can only pray for God's
Mercy and protection from the hands of these
miscreants and no future ambition bastards whose only
contribution in this world is to take the lives of
promising young and agile men that the future of the
nation rely on.
It is often sad when you seat down to recall the
beautiful memories of moments, time and experience you
share with the departed souls. Remembering the
unfortunate murder of Dr. Awwal Shanono, further
confirms the transit nature of this world. As the
tears and pains of losing a dear friend and brother
depresses once heart; we have nothing to do than to
move and continue from where he left us. As we mourn,
reflect and pray for the soul of Dr Awwal, we wish to
call on the government of Oyo State to bring to book
the miscreants that perpetrate this act. May the Soul
of Dr Awwal continue to rest in peace and praying for
Allah's mercy and forgiveness by admit him into his
paradise amin; until we our time come my friend and
brother?
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