Muslim Fundamentalist honours Rev. Father

Abubakar Gimba: This one is very unique because it does not only centre on my own works, it also centres on the embodiment of some of the things I have been saying; that is, putting others first, improving the lot of others and persevering in doing so. The man I launch the three books in honour of, Rev. Father O?Connell is a symbol of that ? completing what I and quite a number of writers are also saying in their own different ways, in prose, in poetry and even in drama. I think the point writers are now making is that it is not enough for people to go and read books but they relate them to living examples amongst them. So this is why this is different and I?m quite passionate about it. 

It is in his honour I did the launching, but each of the three books is dedicated to different persons. The books really did not mention him as such. But I felt the presentation, the debut, the birth of these new babies should be done in his honour. People already know my works so it is not just on the books but on the symbolism of the books.

Well, they are on different themes but they are all speaking of the perfection of self. The Thoughts of Yesterday largely contains a lot of write-up on what we should be doing as a people on governance and the strategies of approaching issues if you really want to get your acts right. Conversations from the Letter Box are really letters written from a writer?s point of view to address things like the agony and the travails of parents and people who have to take certain burden or certain responsibility and the hassle they go through. Letter to my Daughter makes the children focus on certain crucial aspects of life. Before they grow up they should know and appreciate their social and moral responsibilities. The letters are all about values, they are not ordinary letters. Then the other one ? A Matter of Faith; I believe most of us are just Muslims, we are not really doing what is required of us as Muslims. It is mainly addressing Muslims even though it is not a religious book per se. Our faith demands that we live in a total submission to Allah?s orders. Every Muslim?s aspiration is to become a fundamentalist, to become a very good person, but because we have been stigmatized we are afraid of the word ?fundamentalist?. But we should not be afraid because a fundamentalist is one who does things in strict conformity with and Islamic injunctions which emphasizes the need for peace, moderation, perseverance and tolerance. You don?t take the life of fellow human beings for any reason, but we take some of these things for granted in our day to day life. So I can say I?m trying to be a Muslim fundamentalist in the sense that I want to be a better Muslim; be more tolerant, be more patient to accept whatever Allah has given me; to treat people with justice and fairness. You must treat every human being with justice and fairness. This is the message; it is in a small volume but it is full of noble messages.

The Reverend Father is a good example of tolerance. Many Muslims passed through his school where he has been a principal for many years but you never hear about him trying to convert anybody to Christianity. He is a missionary and he does his missionary work, but as for the school, you will never hear that he tries to convert his students. So, to me, it is a very good example. The history of Islam began with Muslims taking refuge under a Christian ruler in Abyssinia. So if the prophet recognizes a good Christian why should we take them as enemies? In fact, the prophet?s uncle was not neither a Christian nor Muslim but he was good to the prophet. And he never abused him one day. So we ought to follow this example. The Qur?an says the closest to you Muslims, who love you, are the Christians. It is clear in the Qur?an. So, this is a Christian who has been nice, he taught our children to become useful to themselves. Therefore, we must honour him. 

Sometimes you don?t have much to do and you want to get some points across; you sit down and write them. The manuscripts have been there for some time. And I thought I should just get them out. You know, life is short and you don?t know what tomorrow will bring. I was very ill so people thought I won?t come back. But Allah has brought me back and I thank Him. So I decided to get these out and share with people.

Well, I?m thinking of new works, but I don?t know what yet. Some time ago I did a poetry work, I have almost done half of it, but it disappeared somehow. But I will still write. There is always something to write and we pray to God to spare our lives. I wouldn?t say I won?t write anything again, just as it will not be proper for a married woman that hasn?t reached her menopause to say she won?t give birth again. One day people will see her with pregnancy and they will ask; 'how did it happen?' 

They should keep on writing but be focused on issues, they shouldn?t just write to entertain but write on issues. I?m not saying they shouldn?t entertain; they can entertain, but they should get a lesson or two out of the entertainment. Keep on writing; don?t throw away any manuscript because you could come back to it again, you could brush it up and produce it.

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