Newz“In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children; the faith of enthusiasts, who sing hallelujahs above the clouds; and the vanity of authors, who presume the immortality of their name and writings,” Edward Gibbon Edward Gibbon’s profound meditation on old age reminds us that time is the great leveller of all human endeavour. Parents find continuity in their children, the faithful place their hopes in eternity, while authors sometimes imagine that their writings may preserve their names beyond the grave. History, however, teaches a more modest lesson.
Neither office nor reputation, neither wealth nor power, can suspend the relentless march of time. Every generation arrives, fulfils its appointed task, and quietly yields its place to another. It is therefore not with any presumption of immortality that I embark upon this reflection on the life of Senator (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu, CON, Turakin Keffi.
Rather, I do so with the consciousness that our earthly existence is but a fleeting interval measured by the ceaseless revolutions of day and night. Within that brief span are compressed the labours, triumphs, disappointments, sacrifices, and acts of service that together define the meaning of a human life. If these reflections serve any enduring purpose, it is to pause, however briefly, in that ceaseless movement of time and contemplate a life distinguished not by self-interest but by public service; shaped not by cynicism but by wisdom; strengthened not by adversity alone but by faith; and adorned not by misery but by grace.
The attainment of eighty years is itself an extraordinary blessing from Almighty Allah. In every civilisation, and particularly in Africa, old age has never been regarded merely as the accumulation of years but as the harvest of experience. It is the season when public achievements may be assessed with greater detachment, ambitions gradually surrender to reflection, and the enduring consequences of one’s actions become clearer.
For those who have devoted their lives to the service of their communities and country, such milestones deserve not merely celebration but thoughtful contemplation and gratitude. It was in that spirit that Nigerians from all walks of life joined family, friends, associates, and admirers in celebrating Senator Abdullahi Adamu as he attained the venera…
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