About one week after the funeral of assassinated lawmaker, Hon Danladi Isa Kademi, his hometown, Kademi is still gripped by shock.AKILU ABDULLAHI reports
People moved about in a daze, confused and wearing heavy faces. Mourners, who could not contain their tears, let it flowfreely as they pondered on what life would be without the man that meant so much to a lot of people.
The late House of Assembly member’s life impacted positively on the lives of his constituents and beyond.
Late Hon. Kademi died from 18 bullet wounds when he was shot by suspected assassins in Kano on Friday, December 14, 2012.
And his community stood still.
One of those who were together with the lawmaker just hours before his death, his special assistant Hon. AshiruJafarKademi, said the deceased appeared so full of life that day.
’’Late Kademi was in high spirits that day. He distributed over ten bags of maize to the needy in the morning and when he had had his breakfast at a nearby eatery before departing, he settled the bill of more than forty people who were also having their meal there’’ the special assistant revealed.
He said that late Kademi was in the process of arranging marriages for eligible girls and boys and had already purchased sets of furniture to that effect.
‘’My boss was a family-conscious person, always willing to see eligible youth of both sexes beginning a family. He was desirous to contribute his resources when it came to establishing homes.’’ Jafar recalled with nostalgia.
Hence, members of late Kademi ‘s immediate family have every reason to mourn this great man. His wife, HajiyaAmina was so grief-stricken that she could not even speak coherently. She was barely able to mumble that for the family, the world will never be the same again.
Baffa Mahmoud Kademi,a childhood friendsaid the deceased had displayed signs of leadership qualities since his primary school days.
He remembers, ‘Although we were ahead of him in primary school, he was noted as an obedient and humble pupil who always drew a crowd around him.” This trait, Baffa said, hecarried with him during his secondary school days where he held many leadership positions.’’
MalamBaffa agreed that late Kademi s political terrain was littered with many success records of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the masses.
“From the time he was chairman of Gaya local government area, to the day he died, Kademi had provided uncountable community-oriented projects including hospitals, roads, potable water, fertilizer, seeds, seedlings, tractors, implements, assorted grains distribution free of charge, employment, women and youth empowerment, electricity generators and the sponsorship of over 500 pilgrims,’’ Baffa enumerated.
Late Hon. Kademi s uncle, Hon Ado Ibrahim Kademi described him as, ‘’unique among those of his political generation.’’
Hon Ado confessed that unlike some politicians, the deceased was always close to his people, associating and assimilating.
Showing a gloomy face, the uncle soothed ‘’we should fervently pray for the repose of his soul. He is a special breed politician in his domain, always offering a listening ear at home, in the office or along the way. He had no political bias, carrying everybody along irrespective of political party affiliation and quick to forgive when offended.’’
Youths from the late lawmaker s constituency also received a severe blow from his death. They were spotted in groups consoling one another, their faces awash with tears as one youth figured out that between 2005 to 2011, no less than 1000 youth obtained employment courtesy of the late lawmaker in addition to providing more with motorcycles.
That women empowerment received a boost from late Kademi was evident from the way hundreds of women were heavily persuaded not to troop to the graveyard during his funeral.
The former Gaya ANPP chairman’s wife listed some benefits to women from the deceased to include distribution of sheep and goats, food processing machines, free ante- and pre-natal care, cash assistance during wedding and naming ceremonies and cottage factory raw materials.
Bringing HajiyaKyambo’s point home, a group of late Kademi’s colleagues in the House of Assembly informed friends and family members that the deceased was cordial, tolerant, hardworking and resourceful in the discharge of his constitutional duties. Chief Accountant of Lafiya Surgery, Kano,Mr.Bolaji was a former classroom teacher with the Kademi LG Primary School who remembered late Kademi as a pupil.
‘’He was brilliant, neat and smart. Even in those days, he cut a figure of one who had ambition in life. As his teacher, I noted high foresight in the boy even then. I knew he would curve a niche for himself some day in the corridors of power,’’ Mr.Bolaji historically related.
Born about 50 years ago in Kademi town, Gaya local government area of Kano state, late Hon. Danladi Isa Kademi began his education at Kademi Primary School before proceeding to Wudil Teachers College and the Kumbotso College of Education. He had some stint in the teaching profession before venturing into politics.
QUOTE: He was a special breed politician in his domain, always offering a listening ear at home, in the office or along the way. He had no political bias, carrying everybody along irrespective of political party affiliation and quick to forgive when offended.’’