Today we mourn the passing of a father, an uncle, a bread winner to many
a true elder statesman, a noble gentleman, a philosopher, a political scientist
a great orator whose presence spoke volumes, a patriot
in the person of Dr Ibrahim Tahir, Talban Bauchi
who died on 08/12/09 in Cairo after a brief illness.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Ameen.

Day by day, I am coming to terms with the demise of my one and only one mother, grandmother and guardian

You are truly more than a grandmother

I will greatly missed your smile, joy and adoration, which I always admire

Sometimes, the words are unspoken

You’ve defied death for the number months

For me, last month was the final time to ever see you again

You made me what I am

You are the only ONE to have made my day, month and year

If I had known, I may have just as well stay to say a final good bye

You are the love of my world

I wish that I was there one more time to give a lasting smile

To lift to show how much you truly mean to me

With you gone and without Baba Ajiya on sight

I feel a good deal the absence of true guardians, my heartache had no end

You are always there for me unassumingly through ups and downs

You truly know how to make me laugh

At times you seldom know how to fix me straight on to the path

Your memories linger even as I hear your soft vocal voice

I shall follow to spend eternity

Pass across the desert sands

Look at the sky glistering stars our only bright

Life is in deed empty without you

Wherever you are and if you are listening to me now

I say goodbye to One and only One Special Grandmother

You are one amongst many that I always love and respect!

Before long, at an appointed time, we too will join you

Promised Land awaits you

Imbued in warmth embrace brilliance

Maized in your angelic face

Travelling through a remarkable memories

Aiming through wonders of earthly mother

Leaving mundane life behind

May your gentle soul rest in Perfect peace, Ameen

A Solemn Tribute to My Grand Mother who died on: 17/12/09 Aged 97

By Abubakar Sadiq Ajiya

In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Kind

Your Excellency,

I just want to express our gratitude to you, Sir, for granting us this rather rare occasion to visit you.

We know how busy you are, but in spite of it all you still accepted our invitation. We met with you on several occasions, one of them being prior to our Launching.

We are very much encouraged of your visit and we honestly think you are one of the busiest people in Nigeria today.

We admire your standing and love for freedom both while in office and out of office.

We are also determined to promote national unity; peace and progress to which we are all dedicated.

Today, you are one of the few surviving national heroes So, we always expect you to guide and prepare us into making Nigeria moving once more!

Sir, we would like to introduce ourselves as peoples of the North, working for the Unity and progress of Nigeria Zumunta Association (USA) and many other groups to achieve peace, harmony and progress at a national level.

We now have many programmes, which we intend to carry out, for example, we are about to launch an Endowment Fund for a Secretariat here in the UK, and we are also concerned with the state of health and education in the North, we are trying to draw
public awareness in these fields and we hope others will assist us in this rather difficult task.

Sir, I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you some members of our Management Committee

Your Excellency, we pray that may God continue to give you long life and happiness.

Long live Arewa and long live the Federal Republic of Nigerian

Thank you,

For and on behalf of
Entire management committee and membership of
Arewa Association (UK)

ABUBAKAR SADIQ AJIYA
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Dear Members,

Measures towards a proper hand-over

Following the recent developments, we wish to update members of the activities of the Exco so far.

From the outset, we are conscious that we have not been good enough at communicating the huge range of things that are going on due to lifelong occupations; nevertheless we have much to be proud of in Arewa Association. This rather long letter aims to put many issues into context, setting out how they fit together. We hope you find it reassuring.

Members may recall that in November 2001 the following people were appointed as members of the Electoral Committee: Mallam Garba Sani, Hajiya Fatima Awak and Mallam Yusuf Kankiya.

Consequently, we were surprised that a group of so-called members have held a meeting appointing a Caretaker Committee headed by Mr Rimdap. It is well known fact that procedures were not followed as lay down by the Constitution.

At the request of the Trustees to clarify the matter, a meeting was held on Saturday the 14/09/2002, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mal. Garba Sani gave his reasons for the delay and apologise on behalf of his Committee. Being that Mr Rimdap attended the meeting he was duly welcome as a man from Arewa as well as a potential member because he was not a member yet. Nevertheless, we explained to him some of the problems facing the Association. Much as the Exco hold him in high respect, it is unfair for non-registered members to participate in the day – to day running of the official matters of the Association.
Moreso, as there is a Constitution for the Association.

Electoral Committee was given a work to do – some of them we believe even attended meetings organized by certain groups in order to try to explain to them what we wholeheartedly believe to be reasons for the delay in holding the AGM. These shortcomings are not ours and as such we should not be held accountable.

We write this letter to encourage all registered and fully paid-up members as well as registered members whose subscriptions are not yet up to date to please try to update their membership prior to the forthcoming AGM, a date for which would be announced shortly.

One of the issues agreed at the meeting is the fact that the association has 136 names on our electronic database, but as of today only 8 have so far paid their subscription.
Furthermore, the fully active members of the Association are not more than 8, this result in continuous recycling of the active members in Executive position. This in turn, causes a lot of friction, partly due to envy or lack of fresh new ideas.
One idea we are currently putting forward to all members:

Sub-Committee – Everyone to feel part of the Association primarily because this is a voluntary Organisation.
Stand-by Constitutional-cum-Electoral Committee – headed by a legal expert to provide check and balance – is it not time for Arewa Association to look seriously at the current Constitution so that we have a truly working Constitution which takes account of our needs as well as adaptable.

Start working on this so that powers are no longer abused by either Exco or any other group operating from outside.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we seek to unite rather than divide. We want to hand over this Association to responsible men and women. We call upon those who wish to set up a body within this Association to think again for the greater good of all. The law is on our side, if need be, we could seek court injunction over the mis-use of the Association’s official letter head as well as improper use by non-members under UK’s law of Deception. However, we choose to ignore, instead determined to go ahead with transition to newly elect Executive Committee already advanced by the Electoral Committee.
It is therefore counter-productive for them to continue with this dangerous group in the name of Arewa Association. We know not of any from amongst us (Exco) who doesn’t want to step down at the forthcoming election.

Our aim is not to let any individual or group to hijack or tarnish its good name and our records of achievement in terms of welfare; integrity and accountability speak for themselves.

This Association is right for its members and that true members should have nothing to worry about this process of getting the right calibre of members to lead it – as a non-political body working for the well being of its members in the United Kingdom.

Finally, we wish to encourage those who are members to also come and join – Arewa Association is a broad based Church and that everyone from Northern Nigeria is welcome to contribute to its development.

We trust that we have listened to your genuine complaints and we are doing something to resuscitate the Association by holding a proper election as laid down in the Constitution.

If you wish to send us an e-mail you can do so via: Sadicom@aol.com
Or visit our website at: http://gamji.com/arewa.htm

Make a positive contribution that would affect your community and the future of your children so that everyone would be a winner!

We would like to thank you and to pay tribute to you and all members for the work you do in supporting Arewa. It is quite true the tide has turned and Arewa Association is getting better. Though we still have a long way to go, but it is by working together that we will continue that progress.

Thank you and God bless you.

For and on behalf of
Out Going Executive Committee
Arewa Association (UK)

Iliyasu Saidu Maisanda
General Secretary

Abubakar Sadiq Ajiya
Executive Chairman