Veteran broadcast journalist and renowned Islamic scholar, Alhaji Abdurrazaq Adegboyega AbdusSalam, recently retired from the Voice of Nigeria (VON) after 30 years of meritorious service to the organisation.
Popularly known as ‘triple A’ in the office, Alhaji AbdusSalam’s sojourn in the external broadcasting station was not only filled with memorable experiences but also remarkable imprints that will remain indelible in the history of the organisation.
As much as some would not want him to leave the organisation at this time, the popular maxim that whatever has a beginning must surely have an end, hence, his retirement is a thing of joy for members of his immediate family, especially his wives and children.
Speaking with Equity News on behalf of the remaining two wives (Hajia Qudrah Mahmud and Tayyibah AbdusSalam), Hajia Khadijah Yusuf (Ummu Safiyyah), was full of happiness and glorification to Allah saying, “We are all very happy to witness his retirement from public service. Everything that has a beginning will surely have an end.”
She said although Abu Umar Al-Faruq has been planning to retire for close to a decade but he didn’t have it until now. See reason.
“That is to tell us that our affairs, as human beings, are in the hand of Allah”, she noted.
Umm Safiyyah described their husband as a good man, who is caring and passionate about his home and humanity.
“Without being sentimental, he is a good man who cares so much about his family, especially the children. If he doesn’t have, he will go the extent of borrowing, just to give them the best. He carries us along in every affairs, especially the ones pertaining to the family.
“He has served humanity. He is a detribalised Nigerian who doesn’t discriminate, irrespective of where you come from. That’s why he is loved by all, no matter their religious leanings. We can only pray to Allah to accept his service years as an act ‘ibadah and preserve the remaining days of his live on earth upon goodness,” she stated.
For his children, his retirement could not have come at a better time.
Hajia Safiyyah Abdurrazaq, is the first born of the veteran radio broadcaster. Like her father, she is also a journalist, with BSc and MSc in Mass Communication from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) respectively.
On behalf of the remaining children, Ms. Abdurrazaq shared some of the fond memories of her father’s deep connection with his family while on duty.
“During the period he was Special Assistant to Abubakar Jijiwa (former Director-General, Voice of Nigeria) he used to travel a lot. He always called us everyday and whenever he was coming home, it was always with lots of goodies. Whenever he went for conferences, he always returned with lots of jotters and pens and other souvenirs for us.”
“When he was writing some of his books and would stay back at work to work on them, the last two of his children would stand at the balcony of our house in Bariga then and say they can see the bus bringing him home (we had a fairly good view of the third mainland bridge from that balcony).
“I was also going to mention the nights he would regal us with stories from his younger years and the beginnings of Da’wah (even before he wrote Da’wah: An Experience). There were some nights in Bariga when there was no light and he didn’t want us to put on the generator. He’ll start telling us stories.”
