Twenty eight years ago, on the 11th of January, 1994, I left my work as a casual staff at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) to start a career in journalism. At exactly, 11am on that day, I was ushered into the newsroom of the defunct Democrat Newspaper (located in Kakuri) to resume work as a ‘Sub Editor’ under the guidance of the then editor , Abdulhameed Babatunde.
On my first day in office, my editor asked me to meet one Kabir Isa Funtua who later handed over to me pages seven (7) and eight (8) as he was to proceed to Kano as a correspondent.
Thus, for four months, I was planing and editing these pages. Until one bright morning, my editor summoned me to his office and told me that he had reassigned me to reportorial desk. Honestly speaking , I was not happy because I felt removing me from editorial to reportorial, was a a clear case of demotion.
Thus, the following morning, when I reported to duty, I was told that, I would receive practical training on the rudiments of news gathering, newsreporting and newspaper production.
First, I was told that I would henceforth, be monitoring and recording the Radio Nigeria 4 o’clock news as well as the NTA 9 o’clock.
What this implied was,, instead of going home when I finished planning my pages as I usually do, I would now have to hang around till late hours. Except on few occasions, I now closed around 10pm or 11pm everyday . Even though, very daunting task, but It really helped me in my career. As I later learnt how to transcribe, conduct interviews etc .
The other aspect of the training was receiving reports from state correspondents all over the country. That time, we received reports through the telephone. A correspondent would be dictating and reading his reports, while we’ll be writing down what he said on a paper till the end.
In short, reports were gathered manually and the processes were manually done unlike today when you have to sit at the comfort of your bed room to monitor, gather, edit and send your reports.
After the completion of the training exercise, the editor asked the news editor to send me to the field and immediately, I was asked to start covering the courts and Police.
I stayed for a while, before I was reassigned to education beat. But when my editor saw, I was bringing good stories from refinery, he officially asked me to start covering Kaduna Refining Petrochemical Company (KRPC). Note since I left the company getting stories was not difficult for me.
Looking back, I would like to say, I am really grateful to Almighty Allah, the owner of the universe for the gift of life and the strength to witness today as I celebrate my 28 years in my chosen career.
I want to use this medium to thank my first editor(Babtunde) for the opportunity he gave me which enabled me to first know the job as well as to excel in the coming years . Allah is the best of planners . Whatever He decides for you, is the best for you. Alhamdulillah.
Let me use this opportunity too, to thank Professor Ladi Adamu who as Deputy editor, graciously published my manuscript (novel) titled the ‘The Price of Friendship’ on her Sunday page . The Sunday Democrat then was the first newspapers to come out in tabloid form in the country.
When she started serializing it on her pages, I was later told that the sales of our Sunday’s edition increased rapidly. Thank you professor. Praying one day to reciprocate this kind gesture.
Even though,the manuscript is still laying in my drawer since 1995 (27 years now), but I am optimistic, it will one day sees the light. If it pleases Allah, He will give me the strength one day to publish it. But if not, I believe one day, my daughter or any member of my family will take up the challenge to publish it into a novel.
There was this colleague of mind, an Igala man (I can’t remember his name) who took the pains to edit the manuscript free of charge. Where ever he is today , I am indebted to him. But I wish, Allah will join us one day.
I will also like to thank one person who played a big role in my career, Mallam Bashir Bello Gwarzo, now a lecturer with ABU, in fact he got the Democrat job for me. Allah will reward him abundantly.
I will not forget also to thank Lazarus Balami (Joe black), a friend who persuaded me to leave NNPC job since it was a contract work to take up this permanent job in Democrat.
I would not forget the role of my Late father, General Hassan Usman Katsina, the former governor of Northern region . If not for his guidance, I would not be here to tell my story. But my encounter with him that day, when I told him, I wanted to quit journalism changed everything. Allah knows why I met him that day for He knows what we don’t know. I made a promise to him that day , I will remain as far as I can go. Though, he was no more to witness my 28 years of service, but I am happy I kept to my promise.
I thank my editor for given me the opportunity to cover General Hassan’s funeral when he passed away. I recall, I did not only cover
his funeral but I had the privilege to be among the few reporters that interviewed the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha who attended the funeral prayers of the departed soul.
Behold! the next morning my report hit the front page of our paper. Though, I saw it as an honour, but I was sad . His death was so painful to me because I first came to know General Hassan around 1988 when as an undergraduate student in ABU. One day, I led the contact committee team to his house in Kaduna.
I told him, we wanted him to be the chairman of our proposed week. However, he apologised and told us, he wouldn’t be chanced to grace our event but he will send someone to represent him. Indeed, he fulfilled his promise and sent Senator Abu Ibrahim to represent him.
Since then, we struck a relationship. I will go to his house and greet him. Gradually, I started frequenting his house to deliver our paper to him . Eventually, our coming together blossomed into a father and son relationship. May Allah forgive his shortcomings.
Looking back 28 years ago, I’ll like to state that, my career took me to all over the country and even beyond. Yes, I travelled to all the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja. Also, I travelled to Garwa and Marwa towns in Cameroun. I was in Togo, Niger Republic, Senegal, Saudi Arabia etc.
Also, I am delighted to say that, my career too gave me the opportunity to come close to two former Head of States. Meeting Babangida and Obasanjo even when they were out of office was a dream of every reporter. Thus, my encountered with the two Generals and leaders was a very rare privilege beyond comment.
As a young reporter, I interviewed Babangida at Arewa House when he came for an event. Even though, it was brief, but I was happy because he gave me the opportunity to interview him. Years later, I met him at his Top Hill Residence when he lost his wife, Hajiya Maryam Babangida.
I met Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at state House, Kawo during the launch of a book. As a young reporter I summoned the courage to seek for an interview with him. Initially, he was reluctant to speak to me, but when I persisted, he finally agreed. I think few months later, he was arrested by General Abacha.
Other prominent Nigerians, that I came across in the course of my career were the Former Sultan of Sokoto, late Ibrahim Dasuki, former Emir of Kano, late Ado Bayero, late Chief Moshood Abiola, Admiral Murtala Nyako, late General Domkat Bali, late Col John Madaki, late Col late Yohana Maman Dickson, late Col Dantsoho Mohammed, late Lt General Haladu, Gen Garba Duba, late Shehu Musa Yardua, late Umar Musa Yardua, and a host of prominent Nigerians.
Twenty eight years ago (ll)
I recall with nostalgic feelings, how barely one year in the profession , in 1995, I was dragged into the union’s politics. I was asked to contest the position of Auditor in my chapel (Democrat). Later, when there was a vacant position, I was asked to move up and take the position of Vice Chairman and chairman respectively.
Unknown to me, the union will offer me greater opportunities to participate in its activities as well as to serve the union . For instance, I participated in all the delegate conferences between 1997 and 2015.
In addition, I was a special delegate at NAWOJ conference in Minna in 2003. I was also a delegate and secretary of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) National Electoral Committee that produced Olu Amadason as the National Chairman of SWAN in 2005 .
Looking back, one has to be grateful to his creator that I had the privilege to serve two state councils(Zamfara and Kaduna). In Zamfara, I was the Secretary and chairman of the correspondents chapel (1999 – 2003). Later, I was the state secretary (2006 – 2012) .
In Kaduna I was ex-officio, SWAN, ex-officio NUJ and Vice Chairman between (2016 – 2018) and (2018 – 2021) respectively.
One of the achievements that I always feel delighted when I remember is, how we got the then governor of the state, Ahmed Sani to donate five (5) 18 seater buses to the council in a single day. The cost of each bus at that time was over N5m. This donation is still a record as no council to the best of my knowledge has broken the record since 2006 .
Another thing that I will always like to remember is the one year adverts we got for some journalists in Zamfara. Today, some of these journalists are proud owners of houses and other landed property.
Lest I forget, I single handedly got a brand new Toyota corolla saloon (2011) model from the former governor of the state, Gov Yari. The day, I spoke to him was the day the key to the car was handed over to me. I drove the car to the press center and handed the car to the then chairman, Dansarki.
I was also part of NEC, that struggled to get a befitting secretariat for our union after several years of staying in a rented office accommodation.Infact, anytime, I remember that, I feel fulfilled and happy to be part of this history.
In Kaduna, during our last days in office, we started the formalization of securing the Certificate of Occupancy for our secretariat as well as to get approval for the new design of the secretariat.
I also feel fulfilled to be part of the union’s constitutional conferences in Jigawa (2000) in Kwara (2005) and in Benin (2011). I will like to summarise my participation this way, we were able to give the union a constitution.
Before now, the leadership tenure was two years, however, the constitutional review extended it to three years. Also, before now, we have positions for only Central Working Committee (CWC). But the constitution decentralised the union to allow for Zonal positions like Vice Presidents, Zonal Secretaries and National Trustees.
Twenty eight years ago ( lll)
In my twenty eight years journey, there are some people that I will ever remain indebted to as long as I live. One of such persons is the former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani, Yarima Bakura. When he was a governor, he invited me to his office one day and asked me to join his presidential campaign team.
He gave me a simple assignment but daunting task. His words ‘get six reporters in each state of the Federation that will help us publicise our campaigns’ . He personally wrote the names of media and handed the list to me. I still have the piece of paper where he wrote with red ink the organisations (Thisday, New Nigerian Tribune, Sun, Trust and Vanguard).
Later, I requested His Excellency to allow me get two additional hands who will assist me in the task ahead . He gave his approval.
Myself, Sani Gaya of New Nigeria and Attahiru Ahmed of the Sun travelled the length and breadth of the country to recruit reporters. As the Head of the team, we successfully recruited competent and trusted journalists.
Many of them worked for our project beyond our imaginations and on our part, we rewarded each of them based on his performance. Today some of them are special Advisers to state governors and ministers. We are still in contact with some of them.
Also, writing a book for former governor of the state, Alh Mahmood Shinkafi is another fulfillment in my career. The book, ‘Mahmoud Aliyu Shinkafi in the Eyes of the Media ‘ captured some of the aspects of his administration particularly in infrastructure, education and health.
But my joy was, after the completion of the book, the governor directed that the book should be given as souvenir to visitors visiting the state. One day, we went to cover the visit of former American Ambassador to Nigeria in his office and after the visit, His Excellency personally asked his media aide to bring the book and he presented it to the visiting Ambassador as a souvenir. The event of that day is still very fresh in my memory. May Allah blessings continue to be with him.
Also, I remain indebted to three sports personalities , late lsa Aliyu Gusau, former Director of Sports and later permanent secretary who as far back as 1999 gave me the opportunity to serve as a member of the sports boards .
Also, late Shehu Gusau, former Director of sports and later director in the National sports commission who appointed me as Media Officer of Zamfara United football club and made me a management member of the club as well .
And Ibrahim Musa Gusau now in Cameroun (AFCON) as Head of NFF delegation for paving the way for me to serve as a member of the state football association for many years. At a time, I was even the PRO of the state football association.
In addition, I was a member, state handball association, member state volley ball association , member state table tennis association and member state screening committee for 2002 National league.
I was also part of the state delegation to the 2006 National sports festival in Abeokuta and 2012 National sports festival in Lagos.
I will also like to express my profound appreciation to, Hon Takori Gummi former member of the House of Representatives representing, Gummi /Bukkuyum for appointing me his Honorary Special Adviser Media since (2007) among others.
Twenty eight years ago (lv)
Finally , l want to share some of the challenges I faced during my 28 years of service. I was detained about 14 times for reports considered to be ‘injurious’ . For instance, I was detained for exposing a contract scam involving a former commissioner of police .
I was also, detained , for exposing a car theft carried out by some security personnel in one of the Government House. I was also detained for exposing human rights abuses in military barracks. I was also detained for exposing some financial irregularities carried out by a government agency among others.
But above all, I escaped two assassination attempts. The first one, in Kaduna for exposing child abuse in one of the schools, while the second one was in Zamfara for exposing a dirty deals by a prominent politician in the state .
I want to say, I remain indebted to my MD, Edward Dickson, Editor, Debo Abdulai, Sina Olaleinde and Dr Lasisi Olagunju who shaped my career since 1999. Is only Allah that can reward them abundantly.
Thus, the climax of my career came in 2015 when I was appointed the Northern Bureau Chief of our paper (Nigerian Tribune). As the Bureau chief I was saddled with the responsibility of supervising and coordinating reporters in the region(19 Northern states) .
I am bold to say that by the special grace of God, since my appointment they gave me the opportunity to facilitate the appointments of young reporters across the region. Many of them are doing well. I wish them the very best in their career.
Looking back, it would not be out of place to say, I have paid my dues and the time has come to take a bow.I have reached my last bus stop. True, I don’t have much time again.
But, I firmly believe my life is on Allah’s Hands – the Omnipotent, the Omniscient. Whatever, He decreed to me, so shall it be. Alhamdulillah!.
I want to thank colleagues for their support over these years. If I have offended anyone please, I am SORRY . It is not intentional. Take it has human because only God is infallible.
I dedicated this piece to my late father, Alhaji Ali Muhammad, a gentleman and one of the finest golfers in the country. He won over 200 trophies during his life time. And my late mother Hajiya Zainab Ali, my role model and my first teacher. She taught me ABCD. Who also imbibed in me the culture of honesty. May Aljannah firdausi be their final abodes . Ameen.
I want to also end by sharing a post, I saw on a Facebook posted by a former member of the council Ibrahim Kaula,now with SMEDAN, Abuja the message goes like this, ‘God does not work in a place where the people are divided ‘ .
Thank you for taking your time.
Muhammad Sabiu Danmaliki
NUJ, Kaduna
19/1/2022
