Akbar Yussif and Alhassan Rabiu Bid Farewell to Dr. David Abdulai
“I believe I have lived a worthy life and death is no threat to me. I beg all, my death should be celebrated not mourned. I’m thankful for what God has used me to do and I’m ready when He calls,” Dr David Abdulai wrote as his last words.
He runs 2 free health clinics in the Northern Region and serves a variety of populations including the mentally ill, HIV positive, homeless, etc. He is the only survivor of 11 children (all of whom died from poverty related illnesses) and had the opportunity to be educated; eventually finishing medical school with the assistance of the Catholic Church.
Although he initially worked in government hospitals, he always realized the great need to return home to Tamale and provide medical assistance to the poor. He eventually returned, building 2 clinics and has seen thousands of patients since the 90’s. He furthermore established a “Meals on Wheels" program that has fed up to 100-150 people per day for over 20 years. All of this has been done through donations and he has never taken a salary for any of his outreach efforts. Dr. David Abdulai, is also a winner of Airtel’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiative “Touching Lives” and other awards and recognitions world wide. Unfortunately, Dr. David Abdulai was diagnosed with stage-4 thyroid cancer which is quite aggressive and spreading as each day goes by. He is in dire need of radiation therapy, which is not offered in Tamale or many other parts of the country.
Many heart felt messages popped up on social media and Radio stations across the region, Mr Alhassan Rabiu is a communication memeber of the National Democratic Congress party in Ghana and and also a passionate poet and writer. And this is how Mr Rabiu choose to bid farewell to the late Northern Son and the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice.
HUMANITY IS DISMEMBERED
In the hour of need,
the Maker's will
turned into clouds,
and the clouds rains,
and the rains poured
on an ordained soil
which bore part of humanity.
This part germinated
to be a huge tree
we'll see only in a millennia;
a tree whose branches
spread beyond distance;
a tree who provided shade
to they that lacked shade;
a tree who served
as roof to the shelterless;
a tree who became
the stove of many souls;
a tree who bore fruits of smiles;
a tree who filled the gaps
of humanity and became
the other half of it;
a tree who watered fields
where it there were no rains;
a tree who cleaned the tears.
But here lays the tree,
leaving all in a sea
of wails and tears,
gripped by fears
of an inexplicable loss,
with plenty of oceans left to cross.
Now who treats the sick for free?;
who feeds the mentally
challenged without a fee?;
who gives their all to humanity
without asking for returns?;
who manufactures the smiles
that were never lacked?;
who bears the flag of humanity
in this long walk to nothingness?;
who dries the tears of the
man in tatters on the streets?;
or the woman in penury
in the household
of hewers of wood
and drawers of water?;
for the legendary tree has fallen;
and humanity is dismembered!
Fare thee well, Dr. Abdullai Chogu!
'' While he was alive and healthy, I advocated that the Tamale Metro Assembly should name a major street after him for his unbelievable contributions to Tamale, the North and Ghana. I argued that we shouldn't wait to honor this hero posthumously. We failed!
Well, he is gone but we can still honor him. I expect the Assembly to do that in his name on a major street to consistently remind everyone that there once lived a man who was a true definition of selflessness.
He has paid his dues to humanity, dues no one would dare attempt to pay.
God bless your soul Dr.'' Akbar Yussif Rohullah Khomeini said.
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