I encountered my future wife not long after I had begun my teaching career at Women Teachers' College, WTC, Kabomo. It was a chance meeting that seemed almost too coincidental to be true. Her name was Indo Umar, a senior student in her final year. The first time our paths crossed is still etched in my memory. She accompanied her friend and classmate, Amina Shata, to the staff room to introduce themselves to me. Interestingly, Amina happened to be the daughter of Dr. Mamman Shata Katsina, the renowned Hausa singer, and our families were acquainted. Amina saw me as a mentor and elder brother in the school, so she was regularly accompanied by Indo to greet me in the staff room. Ironically, Indo assumed that Amina was my girlfriend, despite being aware of our familial connection. Unbeknownst to her, I gradually developed a fondness for Indo. When my feelings for her became strong enough, I mustered the courage to express my affection, which caught her by surprise. She confided in Amina, who expressed joy and offered her support.
From that point forward, the dynamic shifted, and it was Amina's turn to escort Indo when she visited me. Just over a year after we first met, we tied the knot shortly after Indo's graduation from the school.
Even after Indo completed her education, our courtship continued. I frequently visited her in her hometown of Radda, which was located approximately twenty kilometers from Dutsinma. It was in Dutsinma that my cousin, Mansur Muhammad Ɗangwaggo, known as Mansa to his friends and relatives, worked as a Bursar at the Women Arabic Teachers' College, WATC. Therefore, during my first visit to Radda, I made a stop at Mansa's house in Dutsinma before he accompanied me to Indo's village in his Toyota Corolla Station Wagon. Upon our arrival in Radda, we were directed to Indo's father's house. The first person we encountered playing outside was a young boy around fourteen years old who bore a striking resemblance to Indo. We assumed he must be her younger brother and inquired about his name. He simply replied, "Dikko." I asked him to fetch Indo for us, and he promptly did. Little did we know that this young boy, Dikko, would eventually become the Governor of Katsina State!
Following our marriage, Dikko attended the Universal Primary Education Teachers' College, UPE, in Zaria, which was a boarding school. One day, Indo and I decided to pay him a visit. Once again, I sought the assistance of my cousin, Mansur Muhammad Ɗangwaggo, who graciously drove us there in his Toyota Corolla Station Wagon. Prior to our visit, we purchased some favorite food items for boarding students, such as Gari, Ƙuli, Cincin, Sugar, Ground-nut, and a few other items including pepper. Additionally, we gave him a small amount of pocket money before bidding our farewells.
Interestingly, as fate would have it, Dikko later married the younger sister of my late brother Sanusi's wife, Zulaihat.
Dikko became one of my wife's siblings with whom we maintained a strong bond. He has always displayed politeness and respect, which has strengthened our relationship over the years. I vividly remember the excitement in his voice when he called me in 2002 to share the news of acquiring a mobile phone, as it was still quite rare and expensive at the time. I can still recall his excited voice on the phone when he said in Hausa, “Ni ma na haɗa!”, as soon as I answered his call. Not all state capitals were even connected then.
My wife once shared a humorous anecdote about Dikko. Upon learning that I was an English teacher, he made a personal vow never to utter even a simple "yes" in English whenever I was present, fearing he might make a grammatical error.
Our paths crossed again when Dikko served as the local government chairman in Charanci Local Government Council, Katsina State. During that time, his brother-in-law, the late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who would later become the President of Nigeria, appointed me as the General Manager of Katsina State Television (KTTV). Dikko's local government and KTTV established a business relationship, collaborating on commercial programs and promoting his initiatives.
Not long ago, while Dikko held the position of Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), we met once again in his hometown during a special event in Radda. I reminisced with him about the days when I used to send him to call his sister, Indo, whenever I visited. He fondly remembered those happy moments with nostalgia.
It is worth noting that when Dikko decided to run for the position of Katsina State Governor, he appointed me as his Director, Media and Publicity, in his campaign council.
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