When, on Friday May 4, the Sokoto state Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists held a memorial lecture for a colleague, Malam Imam Dalhatu Imam, it was an occasion for outpouring of posthumous encomiums. SIDI A. UAMR writes
Brief illness The Nigerian Union of Journalists Sokoto state Council, commenced its Press Week with a Memorial Lecture on Friday, 4 May, 2018, for late Malam Imam Dalhatu Imam, Senior Special Adviser to the Sokoto state governor, who passed away precisely seven day after following a brief illness. His sudden death had seriously shocked and devastated his working colleagues, friends given his youthful and seeming health statue because if you met the late Malam Imam Imam, as he was fondly called a week before his demise, you will never think that his death was lurking.
Not desperate over ambition Six days before his demise, we spoke on so many issues for a long time including his political ambition. He confided in me about how he want to represent his people of Bali/ Gassol Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, which I promised to fervently pray for him.
Throughout our discussion, Imam never showed his desperation or took the ambition as a do or die Affair. Spread love and affection Throughout his 35 months stay in Sokoto, late Imam had no enemy, he spread love and affection to people he came across with.
He never hid his disenchantment if you wrongly misreported his boss or state government activity. To close observers of Tambuwal’s administration, late Imam left behind a vacuum in the Tambuwal administration which is believed will be difficult to fill. And it is also believed that Governor Tambuwal was second bereaved after his immediate family. Emotions’ burst During the Memorial Lecture session delivered by a friend of late Imam, Abdullulazeez, people were spotted shading tears.
Governor Tambuwal who personally graced the occasion could not also hold his tears. Speakers after speakers took turn to dispassionately eulogize the renowned journalist whose professional conduct and expertise earned him respect and accolades among journalism and public relations career. Late Imam became the Political Editor of ThisDay Newspaper at the age of 32.
Speaking at the lecture, Sokoto state Governor, Barr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal described Imam as an honest, unassuming, humane and humble personality with undoubtful professional and interpersonal skills. Tambuwal’s eulogy “He was faithful and committed to the ideals that brought us together as I became Speaker which he remained untempted by other interest within the house of representatives.
My choice of the deceased was influenced by his sense of resilience and display of professionalism “My choice of late Imam Imam was the right thing in the course of my journey to this level. He did extremely excellent to ensure my image and that of the house of representatives then was not tempted to ridicule. “He was committed to my struggle of the Speakership of the HoRs because he was with and by Feature me. He traversed with me all the length and breadth of Nigeria especially within the media family.”
The memorial lecture attended by media practitioners, associates and friends of the late Imam was not without tears rolling on the cheeks of colleagues who recalled their individual experience and moments with the deceased in the course of duties. All these, Tambuwal said “I have evaluated and found him worthy to continue with him as my Media Aide with ease”.
However, the governor maintained that he made the right choice of someone that could serve and deliver creditably well. “Though, I was faced by lot of recommendations and choices of various persons for the appointment but his appointment had finally vindicated my choice of him considering his abilities and input as a professional who also came from a reverred family background of a devout father and Islamic scholar. “Imam was endowed and from a respected family setting.
He was not arrogant nor specially pompous but lived a humble and tolerant life till the last day”, he mentioned. The governor, however, while giving testimonies of how Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar drove to the family house of the late Imam to condole them, added “ It is a clear evidence that Imam was a good fellow.” Tambuwal further recalled when Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote visited Sokoto, “ Imam was every where. He worked assiduously to ensure the success of the visit. “I wish everyone out of the many countries and places we visited on similar mission was as professional and upright like you, we would have no problems. I must sincerely commend you and the MC’ Abdullahi S. Danko’ “, an official on the entourage of Bill Gates wrote to the late Imam shortly after the visit, the governor read out at the lecture hall an auditorium of the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, Sokoto. Guest speaker’ recollections Guest Speaker at the lecture and Head, News and Current Affairs, Liberty Television and Radio, Kaduna, Abdul’aziz Ahmed Kabir, extolled the late Imam, as a wonderful professional colleague who did not only brought to fore the image of the profession to bear but stemmed his passion and resilience for personal relations. “
He was a resilient professional who had achieved so much at a young age. He was not forward but ready to learn and willing to share with and encourage others”, he said. Kabir who had been a close colleague and associate of the deceased Special Adviser said” Imam started his journalism career with New Nigerian Newspaper in Kaduna, after obtaining HND in Mass Communications from Kaduna Polytechnic.” Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in, in honour of the late Media Aide which included those of Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, Chairman, Sokoto state Special Advisers Forum, Director General/ MD Sokoto state Media Corporation, Alhaji Abubakar Shekara, and Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Commissioner for Energy. However, special prayers were off ered for the repose of the deceased with vote of thanks by the NUJ Zonal Secretary, Shehu Ahmed
