Dogara: Desperation Of A Nomadic Politician

July 30, 2022

Dogara is a nomadic politician on the move again. Believe Dogara, you’ll believe anything.

Dogara was among those earlier speculated to be among those favoured to be nominated as vice presidential candidate of the APC.

During that time, Dogara knew who could make his dream come true, politicians of substance from the North, who happen to be Muslims by accident of birth.

Dogara busied himself consulting and reaching out to Muslim politicians in order to make his dream come true.

The APC presidential candidate, Senator Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, decided to go for Senator Kashim Shettima, who happens to be a Muslim.

Tinubu’s decision stemmed from his understanding that, for his party to become victorious at the 2023 general election, he needed someone that could attract support from the Muslim dominated North, with their 12m votes.

The calculation has nothing to do with pursuing any religious agenda but for political exigencies.

Now, Yakubu Dogara has decided to bite the hands that fed him. Muslim politicians always project and prop him up throughout his political career.

Dogara and his ilks are taking on a dangerous gamble, fruitlessly seeking to pitch Christians against Muslims, simply because they lost out.

However, their quest will not yield any result, except to further erode their political relevance. In their desperation, they readily forgot how impossible and impractical it will be to divide Nigerians along religious lines ahead of the 2023 general election.

Even though Tinubu picked Senator Kashim Shettima, it’s not possible that Asiwaju’s entire cabinet will be constituted by only Muslims.

Nigerians should be wary of desperate politicians like Yakubu Dogara and his ilks. They are only out to satisfy selfish ends. When the chips are really down, Dogara will run to a Muslim politician in Bauchi State or the North East, to seek favours.

With the way Dogara is acting, don’t be surprised if he moves again to another political party, where if he fails to get what he wants, then he will move elsewhere again.

Dogara and politicians like him don’t care a hoot about the people. They are only after their interests. And once they fail to realise their desire, they try to sink the boat.

The real reason why Dogara Yakubu lost out was not because of his religion. He lost out not because he is a Christian.

Yakubu Dogara missed the chance to become the vice presidential candidate of the APC essentially because he does not have the political clout to attract the anticipated votes to deliver the party during the forthcoming general elections.

Instead of accepting this reality, Dogara and others like him, who may have preferred the APC to lose the election, just so to satisfy their selfish goals, are running helter skelter, trying to deceive the gullible, whipping up religious sentiments.

Tinubu To New CAN Boss: Build Bonds Of Inter-Religious Harmony, Good Governance

Editorial staff

July 30, 2022

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked the newly elected President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Daniel Okoh, to aim at building bonds of unity, inter-religious understanding and tolerance while advocating for the benefits of democratic good governance for all Nigerians, regardless of creed or belief systems.

Asíwájú Tinubu, in a congratulatory message today, July 29, noted that the new CAN leader who is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church, is a worthy successor to Rev. Ayokunle whose tenure as CAN president was one characterized by exceptional commitment, principle and wisdom.

“I congratulate Rev. Okoh on his election as the new president of CAN. Rev. Okoh had truly distinguished himself as the deputy to Rev. Ayokunle.”

The APC leader said that Nigeria can only expect nothing but inspired and enlightened leadership from Rev. Okoh.

“CAN is one of the most important organizations in the nation. Not only does it seek the betterment of the Christian community in Nigeria, its moral force and standing benefit all Nigerians as we seek to establish a just and compassionate society where people of all faiths and beliefs live and work together in peace and harmony.

“As a nation, we are in a critical moment where misguided and terrible actors attempt to destroy social harmony and reign violence on us all. These awful forces seek to stoke religious and ethnic divisions in hope of pitting Nigerian brother against Nigerian brother. Decent and good Nigerians of all faiths must ally again such designs. While we may not agree on everything, all well-meaning Nigerians agree that we must live in peace, must respect and honor our diversity and eschew violence and hatred.

“We are grateful that CAN as an organization embodies these and other principles that reflect the values and virtues of Christ. We are glad that the new President of CAN, Rev. Okoh, is a humane and kind soul who has dedicated his life to the betterment of his fellow man and is a person who will work with leaders of other faiths and beliefs to anneal the bonds of unity, inter-religious understanding and tolerance while advocating for the benefits of democratic good governance for all Nigerians regardless of creed or belief systems.

“As long as we stand forthright and adhere to these tenets, Nigeria will defeat the plans of those who seek to place discord and hatred at our door.

“As Rev. Okoh assumes the mantle of leadership, it is my hope and prayer that his tenure brightens every corner of our country and may he be a shining light to all.”

Forex Challenge: We’re On Top Of The Situation, CBN Assures Nigerians

Editorial staff

July 29, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured Nigerians that it is addressing the challenge facing the foreign exchange issues confronting the country, even as it advised the citizens to resist the urge of succumbing to the speculative activities of some players in the foreign exchange market.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja today, the bank’s Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, said that the CBN is committed to resolving the foreign exchange issues confronting the nation and as such “has been working to manage both the demand and supply side challenges.”

The apex bank’s spokesman, who admitted that there has been a huge demand pressure for foreign exchange to meet the needs of manufacturers as well as those for the payment of tuition, medical fees and other invisibles, said that the bank is concerned about the international value of the Naira.

According to him, the monetary authority is currently strategizing to help Nigeria earn more stable and sustainable inflows of foreign exchange in the face of dwindling inflows from oil sector.

He said that the bank’s records showed that foreign exchange inflow through the RT200 FX Programme in the first and second quarters of 2022 increased significantly to about US$600 million as at June 2022.

Nwanisobi assured that the bank would continue to make deliberate efforts in the foreign exchange sector to avert further downward slides in the value of the Naira which, according to him is fuelled by speculative tendencies.

Gov Wike Describes Atiku As Liar, Complains Of Insults By His “Attack Dogs”

Editorial staff

July 29, 2022

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has described the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a liar.

He also complained about the insult rained on him by the Atiku’s “attack dogs,” in the person of the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, Maina Waziri and others.

“Look at his attack dogs, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, Maina Waziri and others; look at the statement they issued. Look at the abuses they rained on me, I never reacted.”

Governor Wike, who for the first time since the end of the party’s Presidential primary where he lost to Atiku, reacted to issues that arose from the primary, said that he decided not to speak but concentrate on fulfilling his campaign promises to the people in his state, said that he has to now speak to expose all the lies concocted against him by Atiku and his attack dogs.

The governor, who spoke today, July 29 at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State shortly after he returned from Spain, said: “I told my special adviser on media that I am going to speak on issues. We know in this part of our world, when lies are contorted, it becomes fact.

“I have always believed when the left speaks, allow the right to also speak. We are not getting younger and as days pass, we get older. So, it is important when issues are raised or when speeches are made, one should be able to say this is the part of my story, so that the public knows the truth.

“It is most unfortunate since after our primary I have decided to be quiet, because it is a party I love so much. I never said anything, I decided to go back home and fulfill the promises I made to the people of Rivers State.

“But there comes a time I need to speak and let Nigerians know the actual truth. Having known the truth, whatever they decide to do with it is left for them.

“When the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar unveiled his running mate, no right thinking person and a lover of this party will say that the speech he made on that day was fair.

“Forget about his hailers, the scavengers and I never reacted to it. I said, no, this party belongs to all of us. Thereafter, Atiku appeared on Arise TV, see the statement he made. So many lies were told and then you said I should not react to some of those issues. That will not be fair.

“Assuming today I am not alive, obviously what he has said will be accepted as the truth. Look at his attack dogs, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, Maina Waziri and others look at the statement they issued. Look at the abuses they rained on me, I never reacted.

“If a presidential candidate who believes he wants to win the election, and as somebody who contested fiercely with him, I never raised issues. I just kept quiet, minding my business to see how my State can move forward, yet every day his attack dogs continued to attack me.”

Governor Wike said that the reconciliation committee which Atiku claimed to have constituted was a big lie, saying that there is nothing they can’t do.

“Some Senators called me to say that Atiku Abubakar said he sent Bukola Saraki to me. That is not true, that is not fair and that is not correct. I was in Spain, Bukola came to me and said, my brother how do we solve this problem. I said well, were you sent by Atiku Abubakar? He said no. So what do you want me to do? Look at the issues. Bukola said the matter is so serious that he never knew.

“So, Atiku has never forgotten about the scavengers. In fact, some of those around called my friends and said O boy, tell your guy to now make him support us. I have been reduced to that level. I have become a guy.

“So, Atiku Abubakar cannot say that he has sent anybody to me. Forget about those who are running around him trying to get what to eat saying we called Wike’s number, he didn’t pick. I don’t know your phone number and you did not send a text that it is so and so person calling to say please I want to talk to you. Nobody has done that. So, since the 31st of May, not one person has spoken to me.

“After commissioning of the project, I will speak. It doesn’t matter who is involved. I am not a slave and I will never be a slave. I am a free-born citizen of this country. I must be able to state how things are. Whether it suits you or not, I don’t care.”

Muslim-Muslim: Babachir, Dogara, Others, Gang Up Against APC, Say It Is Anti-Christ

Editorial staff

July 29, 2022

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other northern Christian leaders have vowed to resist the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election.

They have described the party as anti-Christ, stressing that Christians, including members of the APC, will use their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) and prayers to resist the party’s plan ahead of the polls.

The northern Christian leaders spoke today, July 29, at an APC Northern Christian Leaders Summit in Abuja.

The former SGF stressed that he would keep protesting against the Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing his “resistance” as a wake-up call.

He said that the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket is proof of its anti-Christian agenda and that the party has completely eliminated northern Christians from its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).

The Muslim-Muslim ticket, he said, has been a long-term political strategy and not a one-off decision.

“Thus, all this talk of competence as the reason for the choice of the Muslim VP is balderdash and diversionary. This is a calculated anti-Christian exclusion agenda that is being implemented.”

He wondered why the APC is quiet on the opposition of some members and why the party “hired fake Bishops to further embarrass the church.”

“Christians all over the country see this ticket as a deliberate and premeditated attempt to introduce and firmly entrench religion into the politics of the country, which could lead to further disharmony.

“This is truly a wake-up call for all Nigerian Christians. We didn’t start this religious politics; APC and its candidates did; so, all of us should take note and act as appropriate.

“So, our dear APC colleagues spare us these sanctimonious lectures on competence and the cliche ‘religion of the candidates does not matter’. The truth is that the 2023 presidential election will be all about religion, and sadly, you started it; religion does matter in this context so be ready for the consequences,” he said.

He emphasized that Christians neither seek to oppress nor dominate any one or religion, adding that Christians will resist any one trying to discriminate against them and the religion.

“The PVC and our prayers will be our weapons of choice and we will massively deploy them in 2023.

“But while we are ready to battle this politics of exclusion and oppression, we are open to discussions with anyone who wants to engage with us in good faith.”

The former Reps Speaker too said that the party’s flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a fatal error in choosing Kashim Shettima as a running mate, saying that the is a rude awakening that happened sooner than later.

He lamented unhelpful framings of a debate by pundits that posit that Christians in the North are so small in number that their votes don’t count, adding that this argument seeks to reinforce the satanic agenda of dividing the church in Nigeria into North and South.

The former lawmaker said that the Muslim/Muslim ticket is a bad decision because it would fuel inequality and breed division which is counter-productive to the collective aspirations for a united and prosperous nation.

“An indispensable attribute of a leader in crisis is to be able to recognise a departure of events from routine to novel.

“Consequently, anyone who thinks that events in Nigeria in 2022 are not novel but routine as they were in 1993 is totally incapable of finding solutions to challenges currently ravaging our dear nation.”

He called on Nigerians to rebuke with love, the nodding dogs who have sold themselves to lying spirits by deliberately believing in lies or are refusing to accept the truth.

“The harder they try to make us bow to the golden image of greed, the more we should chant to their chagrin the answer given by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

“As long as God remains the God of justice, may we continue to resist injustice to our sinews, no matter who is for or against it because it is the requirement of the just God.”

Also at the event were Adamawa senator, Elisha Abbo; former sports minister, Solomon Dalung, and other APC leaders.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES.

Buhari Greets New CAN President, Acknowledges Positive Roles Of CAN In Nation Building

Editorial staff

July 29, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the newly elected President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church (Odozi-Obodo).

The President, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, acknowledged the positive role Christians have contributed, through the Association to the nation building.

He acknowledging the role CAN plays in particularly fostering religious unity and harmony, and expressed confidence that the new President will continue to provide the needed leadership for the Church.

Buhari, who quoted from the Scriptural truth: “That they all may be one.’’ (John 17:21a)” recalled fond memories of his interactions with CAN leadership.

He confessed that he valued the counsel and spiritual contributions of Christian leaders to nation building by encouraging, advising, strengthening, correcting and criticizing those in authority.

The President said that the election of Most Rev’d Okoh by the very important Christian body, is a testament to his devotion to the Church of God in the country and beyond, distinguished vocation as a Christian leader and abiding commitment in promoting ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.

He then prayed that the tenure of Archbishop Okoh, in this new phase of ministry, will be marked with success, even as he advised the blocs that make up CAN to give the cleric every needed support to excel.

He also wished the outgoing President, Rev Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle best wishes in his spiritual and secular endeavours.

Budgeting Processes Now Open, Citizens-Centred, Buhari Lists Gains From Open Govt Partnership

Editorial staff

July 28, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has listed Nigeria’s gains from participating in Open Government Partnership (OGP), through joining the transparency body in 2016.

The President, who today, July 28, received a delegation from the OGP Support Unit, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sanjay Pradhan, recalled that when he committed Nigeria to the membership of the Open Government Partnership at the London Anti-Corruption Summit, he was very clear about the role that the initiative would play in the fight against corruption.

He said that since the time Nigeria joined the OGP, “we have developed and implemented two National Action Plans on the Open Government Partnership.

“By next month (in August), I will sign the third Action Plan, which is in the final stages of development. I am eager to sign the document so that we can continue to sustain the progress of reforms that we have recorded in the past six years of implementation.”

President Buhari said that some of the successes Nigeria has recorded since it began to implement the Open Government Partnership in 2016, including the fact that “our budgeting processes have become more open, citizens-centred and participatory.

“In accordance with the objective of fiscal transparency, all stakeholders, including the public are involved in the country’s budget making process, have access to the details of our budgets, and have opportunity to make inputs into it. As a proof of our progress, Nigeria was ranked among the best improved countries for transparency in the latest global Open Budget Survey.

“We have made significant progress in the beneficial ownership transparency in Nigeria. We produced a roadmap of Beneficial Ownership Reporting in 2016. By December 2019, we established Africa’s first Beneficial Ownership Register in the extractive industry. In 2020, we amended our laws to expand Beneficial Ownership Reporting to all sectors of the economy.

“We are currently building a robust national Beneficial Ownership Database, which will be deployed to combat global criminal activities including illicit financial flows and terrorism financing. We are equally convinced the Beneficial Ownership disclosure policy will support our domestic resource mobilization.

“We are encouraged that, at the last OGP Global Summit in Seoul, South Korea, Nigeria won the OGP Impact Award for our commitment and progress on Beneficial Ownership Transparency.

“As part of our commitment to sustain the progress, I have just approved Nigeria’s membership of the Beneficial Ownership Leadership Group.”

On extractive industry transparency, he said that Nigeria as a leading member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, was appointed recently to chair the global network of 20 countries implementing contract transparency.

“Also, as part of a broader commitment to extractive industry transparency, we passed the Petroleum Industry Act which introduced sweeping reforms to enhance transparent and accountable governance of the oil and gas industry.

“In public procurement, we have established the Nigerian Procurement Portal, where citizens can monitor all government procurement processes in a transparent manner. We are currently improving this system to achieve greater effectiveness.”

President Buhari said that one of the reasons the country has made this much progress is because “we have backed our verbal commitments with deliberate action, by including OGP implementation in the national budget to ensure sustainability of the partnership in Nigeria.

“With these steps we have taken, our administration will bequeath to the next government a culture of transparency, accountability and citizens’ participation in governance. We have worked hard to institutionalise the OGP by mainstreaming open government practices across our governance systems.”

The President commended the national OGP team, led by Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, who is the Government Co-Chair, and the Civil Society Co-Chair Dr. Tayo Adeloju for their relentless efforts in advancing transparency and accountability in governance processes.

OGP CEO, Pradhan, recalled that he was there in London in 2016, when President Buhari committed to the 77-member organization as Number 70, and described Nigeria as “an excellent performer, one of the most open across the partnership.”

He lauded Nigeria for opening up its budget processes, contracts, procurement, and the extractive sector.

He advocated more reforms in disclosure of audit, establishing an E-procurement platform, and institutionalization of OGP, among others.

Pradhan described Nigeria as a country “with open hearts, open arms of friendship and partnership.

Police Identifies Terrorist Camps In Abuja, Plans Strategies To Take War To Their Camps

Editorial staff

July 28, 2022

Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has evolved plans of taking the fight to the identified camps of rampaging terrorists in recent time.

One of the major plans, according to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, is to involve security collaboration and partnerships with states that are contiguous to the Federal Capital Territory, including among others, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States.

The Commissioner, who spoke today, July 28 at the end of the Security Committee meeting, chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, said that the re-invigoration of the G7 security operations will see the commencement of security actions and procedures that will involve taking the fight to the bandits and terrorists in their camps which are mostly located in states bordering the FCT.

He called for the collaboration and cooperation of residents, advising them to provide actionable and timely intelligence to the security agencies and that they should be security conscious at all times.

The Commissioner assured residents of their safety and that they should go about their lawful activities.

“I call on residents to give actionable and timely intelligence to all the security agencies and to also be security conscious.

“I’m also assuring them that FCT is safe. Every member of the community should go about their lawful businesses. We are on top of the situation.

“We have deployed our men both overt and covert and we are doing everything possible in synergy with all the security agencies, with the support of our traditional rulers and religious leaders to make sure that FCT is safe.”

This was even as the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Minister, Ambassador Abu Salihu Mohammed, emphasized the readiness of the heads of security agencies in the neighbouring states to participate actively in the G7 operations.

He also called on residents to be wary of fake news, especially on the social media which are designed to cause panic amongst the citizenry.

Circulating such news, he said would amount to playing into the hands of terrorists.

He advised residents not to panic but to always verify news and other information from relevant and recognized authorities.

The meeting was also attended by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, ES FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, heads of the various military formations and para-military organizations in the FCT as well as religious and traditional leaders and Area Council Chairmen.

As Veteran Editor, My Mentor, Abdulhamid Babatunde Bows Out, By Yusuf Ozi Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

July 28, 2022

The death, yesterday, July 27, 2022 in Kaduna, of one of the few veteran editors and thorough-bred journalists of our time, Alhaji Abdulhamid Babatunde Agaka came as a rude shock and surprise to those of us that have admired his writing prowess and sharp editorial judgment, but it didn’t look surprise to him.

In fact, Abdulhamid Babatunde had always believed strongly that sooner or later, he would return to his maker, especially as he began to see his children growing. As a matter of fact, I had a chance meeting with him in Abuja a couple of years ago after a decade since we parted, and in the course of discussion, he veered into personal issues, asking me about my children, three of whose naming ceremonies he attended back then in Gworon Dutse, in the Kano main municipality. I also, naturally asked after Ahmad, his eldest son, whose naming ceremony I also attended in the early 80’s at No-man’s land in the Sabon Gari area of Kano.

In response, he said: ‘”Ahmad is now a big boy. He is even taller than me now. In fact, when your child grows up to the point where he can conveniently use your shoes or shirts, you should know that your time (death) in this world is just around the corner. We have paid our dues and just waiting for us to return to where we came.”

In fact, when I was employed in 1982 by the New Nigerian newspapers, a Federal Government owned newspapers, founded in Kaduna along with the Federal Radio Corporation by late Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello in the 60’s, I was instantly posted to Kano where Abdulhamid Babatunde held sway as the newspapers State Editor. I was to assist him in the news coverage of the old Kano State, now divided into Kano and Jigawa States.

It was a joyride for the two years I worked under Abdulhamid Babatunde. He was not only a teacher, showing me, as young reporter (just two years in the profession) how to gather news and how to write them, especially the intros, he also became a friend and confidant, to the extent that when he was marrying his wife, an Igbo lady, named Stella, who later changed her name to Salamatu, he involved me fully in the preparations. As at the time they married, Salamatu was actually a lady Journalist too.

Not quite two years after I joined him in Kano, Abdulhamid Babatunde was transferred to the Headquarters in Kaduna, where he eventually became the chairman of the Editorial Board of the newspaper organization. I was left in Kano as acting State Editor. That was the first major parting the two of us had. But we still maintained staccato contacts, either through my visits to the headquarters for one official reason or the other or his few-and-far-between visits to Kano.

Sometime towards the end of 1987, I had a serious issue with the then the military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida via a story I wrote about his wife, late Mariam. The story was published in the newspaper. I was locked up for three months at Ilaro prison in Ogun State after being arrested at the Kano International Airport, when the aircraft I traveled in from Saudi Arabia landed. When I was released after several “shouts” by various bodies, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the New Nigerian Newspapers management sacked me without giving me an opportunity to explain myself.

It was Abdulhamid Babantunde who, as I reflect in my soon-to-be published autobiography, gave me a word of courage thus: “from what had happened, you should’ve expected that the New Nigerian newspapers would sack you. You know they (the Federal Government) own it hundred percent. Anywhere you would wish to find a job, let me know so that I would render whatever assistance I can.” – (November 30, 1987).

Not quite long after, late Ismaila Isa Funtua invited Abdulhamid Babatunde to help set up a new national newspaper, called The Democrat and made him (Abdulhamid Babatunde) the pioneer Editor of the newspaper, with Gabriel Abutu as an acting Editor of the Weekend version of the newspaper.

After several attempts at securing another job failed, as the officers of the State Security Service (SSS) continued to trail me (secretly) to anywhere I sought an employment, as a way of frustrating me out of the profession, I ran to Abdulhamid Babatunde in Kaduna, who instantly employed me, damning the consequences. He was threatened by the officers of the SSS but he would not bug. He posted me back to Kano as State Editor in 1989.

That was the way of Alhaji Abdulhamid Babatunde. He was very courageous, dexterous in service and professional all through in the art of journalism and writing. He, indeed, was a prolific writer, so much that he became the power behind all the writings that were attributed to one of the outspoken politicians of our time, late Wada Nas, and many others.

Abdulhamid Babatunde, who was born on February 26, 1956, joined the service of the New Nigerian newspapers, the pioneer Northern newspaper based in Kaduna, in 1974.

He attended Capital School Kaduna, before proceeding to Barewa College Zaria and Government Secondary School Ilorin.

Abdulhamid Babatunde, in the bid for excellence in Journalism, attended several media trainings, workshops and conferences at home and abroad, and was an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos.

The late veteran journalist also held executive positions in the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), where he was a Fellow.

Alhaji Abdulhamid Babatunde, who was once the Secretary of the Jokolo Committee set up by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, is survived by four children: Ahmad, Maryam, Halima and Abdulhamid (Jnr).

He is also survived by other siblings, including Malam Ismail Ila Agaka, a former Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Ilyasu Baba Agaka, a Director at the Presidency among others.

I would say that I also feel a great sense of loss in view of the positive roles he played in my formative years as journalist. Even after retiring from active practice as he settled for consultancy work, he had kept monitoring my progress in the profession, so much that he virtually married himself to Greenbarge Reporters, an online newspaper I floated in 2012 after I too, voluntarily retired from serving others. He used to sometimes make comments, either commending the news items I featured on the platform or correct some of them.

While, I wait for my turn in the journey to the place we all came from, I wish Abdulhamid Babatunde Allah’s forgiveness of his sins; the ones he committed knowing and others he committed without knowing them; and a peaceful rest in the bosom of the Lord, and eventually, Al-Jannatu Firdausi.

Yusuf Ozi Usman is the Editor-In-Chief of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and Chief Executive Officer of the Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Buhari Mourns Babatunde, Describes Him As Distinguished Writer, Journalist

Editorial staff

July 28, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolences over the death of Abdulhamid Babatunde, whom he described as “a famous journalist and writer” who served as editor of several newspaper titles, including the defunct, Kaduna-based Democrat.

“Abdulhamid Babatunde was a distinguished writer and journalist. He contributed extensively to our elections in 2015 and 2019. He worked to strengthen the journalism profession as an eminent writer and unionist.”

In the condolence message issued by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President said that late Abdulhamid Babatunde was always full of energy and ideas and was passionate about Nigeria’s development.

According to Buhari, Abdulhamid Babatund will be missed by so many people, saying: “his demise leaves a huge void in the media.”

The President prayed to Allah for the repose his soul and grant fortitude to his family and friends to bear the loss.

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