The burial of elder statesman and former Minister of Industry, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has prompted deep reflections on life, death and the inevitable journey every human being must undertake.
Among the poignant moments witnessed during the funeral was the sight of his son, Dr. Auwal D. Tukur, carrying the remains of his father to his final resting place.
Reflecting on the emotional scene, writer and commentator Asyha Ahmad Galadima described it as one of life’s most painful and unforgettable moments—the sight of a child carrying the very father who once carried him into the world, this time to his final resting place.
According to Galadima, the moment offered a powerful reminder of the circle of life and the inevitability of death.
“One of the most painful and unforgettable moments in life is seeing a child carry the very father who once carried him into this world, only to now carry him to his final resting place,” she reflected.
She described Dr. Auwal D. Tukur’s role in carrying his father as a deeply emotional image that captures the journey of human existence—from birth and parental care to old age and ultimately death.
Life, Galadima noted, is a journey whose destination remains certain regardless of status, wealth, influence or accomplishments. Death, she suggested, is the great equaliser that eventually calls everyone to account and reminds the living of the temporary nature of existence.
The passing of Dr. Bamanga Tukur, an elder statesman who played significant roles in Nigeria’s public life, has therefore become not only a moment of mourning for his family and associates but also an occasion for reflection on the fragility of life and the bonds between generations.
Galadima prayed for Allah’s mercy upon the deceased, asking that his shortcomings be forgiven and that he be granted eternal rest and Aljannah Firdaus.
“May Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest, and make Aljannah Firdaus his final abode,” she prayed.
She also concluded with the Hausa prayer: “Allah Lamido ya yafe tawema a seuti.”
The emotional image of a son carrying his father in his final moments serves as a solemn reminder that while parents spend their lives carrying and nurturing their children, there comes a time when the children must bid them farewell and return them to the earth.
In the end, life comes full circle: the hands that once carried us may one day be carried by us.
