Tribute
Mohammed Isa: How not to log out
By Ola Awoniyi
You may not realise how difficult it can be to write a tribute about a departed colleague, until you sadly have to do it. Emotions do choke the written words, as they do the spoken ones. The situation becomes even worse when the departed was very much more than a colleague. Mohammed Abdulkadir Isa was a friend I was blessed to meet at my workplace.
On 16th July, 2021, I received an unusual WhatsApp post. It was an old press statement signed exactly two years earlier announcing my appointment. It was signed by Mohammed Isa, the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. Before I began to wonder why he was sending me an old statement, I received a text from Mohammed: “Sir, this is just to remind you that it is exactly two years today that you were appointed as the Special Adviser on Media to the Senate President.” Then he prayed for me again. It was a simple act for Mohammed. But for me, it was thought provoking. It took me into a moment of reflections.
Two years earlier, I had received a call from an unknown number with the caller informing me that he had just announced my appointment. The caller later identified himself as Mohammed Isa. That was how the gentleman from Katsina State became my first contact at my present workplace.
When I reported to assume duty about a week later, I met Mohammed for the first time waiting for me at the main entrance to the new wing of the Senate building. I had told him that I was coming and we met as agreed. He then accompanied me to my office. Although I wasn’t a total stranger to the National Assembly, Mohammed made himself my guide on my first day at work, taking me to the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr. Babagana M. Aji, and from there to meet the staff in the Office of the Senate President. That was how our journey as colleagues began. And we soon became close friends. But sadly, it ended too soon.
I spoke twice with Mohammed on Monday, 7th November, 2022. That was the day after he was involved in the accident that eventually claimed his life and that of his friend, Danladi Ndayebo.
Even in his distress in his hospital bed, Mohammed remained a reporter. So when he heard my voice on the phone, he immediately set about narrating how, when and where the crash occured. But I noticed that he was apparently struggling to speak. So I told him there would be ample time to tell the story after his discharge from the hospital. Noticing too my concern about his condition, he assured me that he was responding well to treatment.
On the second time we spoke that evening, he broke the sad news that his friend, Danladi, had just passed on. They were together in the auto crash along the Minna-Abuja road. Mohammed and Danladi, a former Editor of Leadership Newspapers and former Commissioner for Information in Niger State, were inseparable in life. And now, sadly so too in death.
The day after our first conversations, I called Mohammed again about his immediate needs that might require urgent intervention from the office. He was confident that he would make it.
It turned out to be my last direct conversation with Mohammed. The next day, I realised that his doctors had cancelled his access to the telephone.
The day before our last direct conversation, he posted a vague message on his Facebook wall: “Logging Out for Now, So Long.” That was precisely at 6.05am, the day after the accident. But on his third day in the hospital, he was back on his wall with another post: “Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you that sent a goodwill and condolence message over our accident and the eventual death of my friend and brother, Danladi Ndayebo. I appreciate all of you and assure you that I’m in a stable condition and recording daily improvement.”
You could therefore imagine my utter shock on the evening of Friday, in far away Yobe State where I was on official trip, when I received a phone call from another fellow staff, also a journalist colleague. The sobbing caller merely managed to break the shocking news of Mohammed’s passage. The news left me dumbfounded. That Mohammed has truly “logged out.” Forever. It still seems to me surreal.
Mohammed was a jolly good fellow and I found him great to work with. Besides, I had good reason to maintain my closeness with him having been conversant with the bureaucracy at the National Assembly. He had worked as a political appointee of Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal when he was Speaker of House of Representatives. He was later appointed as Special Assistant on Public Affairs during the tenure of Bukola Saraki as Senate President. So he already understood the bureaucratic nuances of the National Assembly before I came on board.
As the Special Assistant on Media in the Office of the Senate President, he had an office but rarely used it, preferring to work from my own office. I enjoyed his company a great deal too. Lively and likeable, there was never a dull moment with him around. In my official assignment, he was a reliable and dependable source of information because he had his ears to the ground. He also had a full grasp of contemporary politics and a brilliant memory.
For the more than three years that we worked together, we never had a dispute, which is unique in a public service and political environment. Mohammed took corrections in good faith and was ever eager to learn more about the job, despite his vast experience.
Mohammed was the restless type, difficult to confine to a space for long. He always had to move around, for which he jocularly nicknamed himself a nomadic journalist.
Mohammed was also compassionate almost to a fault. He would always reach out to anyone he thought needed to be comforted. It was therefore no surprise to me when I was told that he and his friend were on a mission to Minna to empathise with a family whose child was missing when they were involved in the accident.
Mohammed’s memory will linger among his former colleagues and vast network of friends. I definitely will remember him always.
Adieu, Mohammed Abdulkadir Isa.
***Awoniyi is Special Adviser on Media to the Senate President
A former Governor of Borno State Senator Modu Sheriff on Sunday evening described late Cairo Ojuogboh as the most unique and dependable among all his friend.
Sheriff who Spoke at an evening of Tribute to celebrate the life and legacies of Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh.
Ojuogboh, a former member of the House of Representatives slumbed and died on Feb. 8, while watching the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals between Nigeria and South Africa.
Sheriff, the Chairman of the Organising Committee said: ”Im still shocked that Ojuogboh is no more. If there was a perfect gentleman I met in the course of my life is Ojuogboh.
“He called me, ‘my chairman, I am going to watch the football match. I told him I was already in my sitting room after clearing every where to avoid distraction, so that I can watch Nigeria semi final against South Africa.
“Nearly one and half hours later I got a call that Dr. Ojuogboh is dead. I told the person, he must be crazy, I just spoke to Cairo now, he gave me the rundown of his itinerary for the day, what he did, where he went and he retired for the football match
“If there is a perfect gentleman, I have met in the course of my life, one person that you can trust, this is a gent that you can rely on is Dr. Cairo. If I am in Abuja, the first person that I will see and the last person is Cairo
“This is a gentleman that I met in the course of my political career and he gave me the insight of the other side of Nigeria
“I have met a lot of people from all works of life, all my life in Lagos before I went back to Borno in 1992, in the senate and on and on, in the constitutional conference, I have met all kinds of people from all works of life but I have never met a human being that make me feel so free to talk with like Cairo.
“If the circumstances we met would have been the parameter he would not have been my friend in life. “The first day we discussed frankly was in the House of former Governor of Delta State Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa and that was my first time in Bayelsa.
“We had a disagreement and I don’t carry anybody on my mind to bed with anger. If I have anything against you I will tell you there and then and I will forget about it. I told him, he apppologused to me and from that day we became the best of friends.
“I know he has left a lot of children, young and old but I want to assure all of you that I will be there for you anytime you call upon me. He is one person that I will not forget, he is one person that I will remember all the time.
“Honestly and sincerely because I am a Muslim and the Holy Koran says Allah gives you life and Allah takes, you have no right to question. Otherwise one would have question why, but one would have offended God.
“He was one person I will not forget; he was one person I will remember all the time. He lived a good life worth emulating.”
On the circumstance that led to the death of Ojuogboh, Sheriff said that it showed that the deceased was a true Nigerian, a nationalist.
Sheriff called on leaders to be more patriotic saying that patriotism is what would keep the country together.
“We have to believe in and be proud of our country,” he said.
Chairman of the Occasion, a former Gov.of Akwa-Ibom, Victor Attah, prayed God to comfort the family of the deceased.
He said: “God that provided you this husband, father and uncle, will continue to provide for you. God will comfort you; God will give you the strength to bear the loss.”
Elderstateman and Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, who spoke virtually, said that he had known Ojuogboh for a long time and was like a son to him.
“He was very dedicated and faithful. Ojuogboh was very dear to me. Ojuogboh played a leading role during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
“We have lost a fantastic young man. We pray God to accept him and pray God to take care of the family he left behind.”
Also speaking, a former senator, Sen. Dino Melaye described the deceased as detribalised, very civil, principled and sociable.
“His relationship cut across political divide because Ojuogboh was one of the very few APC people that will have something to do and I will attend.
Similarly, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) said the deceased was a friend of all across party divide, a man for all and a very sociable and amiable person.
“To the family of our departed brother, you have every reason to be proud because he made good impact in the lives of many people.”
On his part, Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) said that Ojuogboh was a very loyal man and faithful to friendship.
“He did his best within his short sojourn on earth. May God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Also speaking, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, a Judge of the Federal High Court, while giving a charge on legacy said that the late Ojuogboh was an accomplished person and was truly legacy conscious.
She said that legacy was a footprint that an individual leaves on earth after he or she is gone.
“At a point, he was involved in reconciliation and harmonisation activities. That is one of the legacies he left behind.
“Let his legacy be a prompter unto us to leave better legacy, legacies that will impact people of now and years to come.”
For Ojuogboh’s wife, Ruth, she said “I’m still in disbelief this is even happening and I struggle to find the words for the depth of loss that I feel.
“I find solace in the words of Ecclesiastes chapter three verses one and two…it reminds us that there is a time for everything. A time to be born and a time to die.”
She said: “My beloved husband lived a life marked by love, strength and unwavering faith. He was indeed a warrior who faced life challenges with courage and resilience.
“Though we mourn his loss, we rejoice in the assurance that he now rests in eternal peace.”
The late Ojuogboh was born on Sept. 8, 1959 in Agbor, Delta. Through out his illustrious career, Ojuogboh served in various political capacities, including Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His transition to the All Progressives Congress (APC) further underscored his commitment to his principles and the advancement of his ideals.
Ojuogboh also played pivotal roles in the National Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives.
***Tasks govt on Omala LG killings
Associates, friends and family have showered glowing tributes on the late former Minister of state for Health and President of the Nigeria Institutes of Architects, Chief Arc. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku who died recently in Atlanta.
The tributes poured in during the Igala USA Memorial Service of songs and US community farewell held in Atlanta USA on Saturday April 6th.
A statement signed and issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Igala Association, USA, Dr. Raphael Agbali described Chief Aduku’s lifetime of devotion to faith, humanity, and quality through many accomplishments over his 80 years earthly sojourn as worthwhile
The statement indicated that the gathering of professionals, leaders, and associates from all over the US, took to the podium to eulogise the late icon on his legacy of service to the nation, profession and the Igala kingdom.
Dr. Agbali quoted the officiating minister Pastor Dr. Johnson Adefila to have described the late Statesman as demonstrating heavenly virtues that would inspire generations to come.
President of the Igala Association USA, Ms. Teresa Edoja paid tributes to Chief Aduku as the great unifier and builder, whose signature advice was always “Build! Do not destroy”.
Also, President of Igala in the United Kingdom, Rowland Ataguba in a virtual tribute, said Chief Aduku’s great strides will be sustained though the great patron of equity, whose remains arrive in Nigeria for internment on April 20, will be missed.
The Association also used the occasion to decry the recent killings of scores of Nigerian citizens of Igala descent in Agojeju Odo in Omala local government of Kogi State by suspected herdsmen
The statement called on the federal government to bring swift justice against the perpetrators and their sponsors, secure lives and properties and immediately remove the menacing terrorists from the Bagana Abejukolo area of Igala kingdom.
The statement indicated that it is ironic that the attacks were the forms of injustice Chief Aduku strove to prevent through his public service.
The association pledged to continue working for justice and peaceful co existence, as preached by the departed statesman, using her global reach to expose trouble spots and those who enable terror.
***describes him as Frontline politician and consummate professional
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has expressed sadness over the demise of the frontline politician and immediate past chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum Arc. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku who died in the early hours of Monday.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, described the late Arc. Aduku as a frontline politician and a respected community leader who contributed immensely to the development of Kogi State and Nigeria.
Ododo noted that Arc. Aduku, one time Minister of State for Health, was an uncommon politician whose intellectual abilities and political acumen impacted the political landscape of Kogi State and Nigeria positively.
He described the death of the renowned Architect as a great loss to the people of Kogi State who, he said, have been deprived of the wisdom and guidance of a man whose vast experience in different spheres of life would remain a point of reference for the younger generation.
The governor said that the late Amana Ogohi 1 of Atta-Igala was also the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects until his death.
Ododo also described him as a consummate professional whose experience inspired many Kogites and Nigerians across generations, the statement added.
The Governor commiserated with the family of the late Octogenarian and the people of the state for the irreparable loss and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late politician.
Chief Aduku was born on Thursday 3rd February 1944 in Anyigba, Dekina LGA of Kogi State to the family of Aduku Aguye Aga of the Ameh Ohiga clan and died at the age of 80 in the United States of America.
Architect (Chief) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku held the Igala title of Amana Ogohi 1 conferred on him by the Atta of Igala Kingdom.
He was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was credited for the designing of the party’s logo in 1998. (Ends)
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