Black Wednesday, so i described it. Only resurrected after gathered the shattered pieces in me as a human.
The last few days, were traumatic, having lost a dependable ally to the cool arm of the death.
Heard a lot of him, when I arrived Dutse, the Jigawa State capital on transfer.
Though, never met. But the glowing testimony by colleagues for his ability to deal with all, satisfactorily, triggered the inquisitiveness in me to know who was this fellow, Ahmed Abubakar.
Journalists, are one group of people that I know, who they hardly appreciate a fellow collegue particularly, a leader amongst them. But, his, was a case with a difference.
The thought of the encomium, further inspired me of not only to know who he was but this time around intended to secretly understudy him.
When, I arrived Dutse on transfer, Ahmed was also in Abuja on transfer. Covering the then ruling party PDP, as a Correspondent for Peoples Daily Newspaper.
Pregnant with concealed curiosity to see this most praised Journalist. Having stayed away for sometime, when he came in he usually stayed indoors with his family to the time that he was leaving. However, i only do hear amongst colleagues that he was either in town or had left.
Months after, the noble Journalist showed up briefly at the secretariat of Jigawa State Correspndents’ Chapel, Dutse, during one of his visit to the state to see his family.
Prior to our brief meeting, the anxiety to meet with him refused to fizzle away despite, he decided to stay clear of the chapel whenever he came in probably, opted for that in order to give his family enough time.
Though, an indegene of Kano State but Ahmed, had his family stationed in Jigawa state.
While exchanging pleasantries for the first time, Ahmed did not leave me in doubt as he proved of all I heard of him.
He did not only treated me with humility as he warmly received me but greeted me with utmost respect, which i’ll live to appreciate.
Ahmed, addressed me as ‘Yallaboi’, knowing fully well i am not one.
Most of the chapel’s members doffed for him for his selfless leadership as even the Judas amongst them declared their unflinching loyalty. Ahmed left for Abuja, while serving as Chairman of Correspondents’ chapel.
As fate would have it, the opportunity to understudy him came to me at a platter of a gold. Ahmed, came back to Jigawa permanently as he had secured a new employment with the The Sun Newspaper.
Ahmed, assumed duty, while I was the chairman of the chapel in acting capacity after the then chairman was removed.
I resisted all enteritis to make me the substantantive chairman for a reason personally known to me then though, I will make it public today.
Many might have assumed, I declined because I want to run away from the responsibility of giving an equal match to if you like, the successionists, who had now formed a faction.
To me, the mandate for chapel leadership is about spearheading a good relationship between Journalists and relevant stakeholders, government as the most critical in series.
Having been reporting for one of the most aggressive media outfit in term of news hunting, I know I have little or nothing to offer in cultivating such relationship.
It will be tantamount to a failed leadership if any of the stakeholders, government in particular, fumed and gone after the head for any unpleasant story.
The mandate will be of no effect if he who to mediate for a resolution is on the run, having been the cult print.
My colleagues can remember these stories, ‘How Jigawa Government Politicises Appointment Of Jahun HealthTech Principal’ published in July, 31, 2019, ‘Jigawa Is The Dirtiest State In Northwest — Minister’ in October, 8, 2019 and ‘6 years after, academic activities yet to take up in Jigawa blinds’ school’, July, 10, 2019.
These and many others set me against the government of the day, at a point, you can recall the man at the driver’s seat had to summon a meeting with correspondents in the state. Lo! and Behold, the meeting couldn’t finished “Sai da ya jamin Allah, ya’Isa”.
Though, not all had reasoned my own way but these foreseen circumstances, informed my earlier decision to declined the chairmanship position outrightly.
Upon my firm stand, the house therefore, unanimously chose Ahmed as new substantive chairman while i served under him as the vice chairman to the time I was posted out of Jigawa in 2020.
We worked closely for about three years, within which I must attest to the fact that i found him not only worthy of being an ally but also a progressive element.
The last time we spoke was when his mother passed on, I called to condole with him. When he picked we could not even greet but said ‘nasan nama laifi amma dan Allah kayi hakuri.’
This was chairman for you, if he offends he apologies.
Adieu! Ahmadu mai mutane as i fondly called him. Ahmed, ‘na yafema duniya wa lahira.’ ‘Allah, ya gafarta maka, sai munzo.’
