By John Fwah
Wahab Page: You are one man you would like or want to come in contact with, either as friend or colleague or any other way. Reason is simple. You were likeable, friendly, amiable. He was vocal as well, more especially as a journalist and lately lawyer.
I came in touch with him in the late 70s as young men in Kaduna. Precisely we started work almost same time with the now rested New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN), the newspaper which was regarded as the Al Haram of Nigeria and that’s because when the news appears in the newspaper, it’s believed that the government has spoken, or you want to confirm government statement. This is coupled with clear printing and sharp pictures. The NNN medium was a place to identify with, be it social, politics etc. So when we met there as staff in the editorial department, I (and himself, so I suppose) felt we have found the best place to work. Anyway, this is not a forum to discuss New Nigerian Newspaper which was a training ground for many Nigerians. Many Nigerians who have passed through NNN can be found in many spheres of human endeavour of this country either as politicians, ministers, traditional rulers, in businesses, government agencies and parastatals, etc. Talk of former minister Malam Adamu Adamu, Malam Haruna Mohammed with INEC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Oba Babatunde Akran of Badagry who was News editor in Lagos office before he was installed.
Take note that I cannot write or talk about Wahab, without talking about New Nigerian Newspaper. Just like Nigerians would say, it’s (New Nigerian), in the blood. The death of NNN after it had made mark in the nation’s media industry was unfortunate and one of those mistakes the all-knowing northerners made. It’s like throwing away the baby with the bath water.
Page was a workaholic when he started with NNN as a Proof Reader and had remained so. He was a courageous fighter in a cause he believes in. Proof Reading was a section of the media that makes all the necessary corrections in punctuations, grammar, spellings, headlines and captions of pictures. That was analogue era where the proof readers run two shifts morning and afternoon. And each reader takes responsibility for the page assigned to him or her. There were others like Albert Bosah Iweka presently a lawyer. He is the leading lawyer in the legal battle for NNN pensioners rights and dues before the court. Like Wahab Barrister Bosah went for law at ripe age too. There were Philomena Ojile, late Baba Danlami, late Zuru, Yakubu Adele, among others as the Proof Readers. Editors, Chief Sub-editors, News editors and editorial and production department staff enjoyed his company both in and out of duty. Reporters like, Tajudeen Tijjani Ajibade, Mohammed Bomoi, late Abdulhamid Babatunde among others intermingled also during that era.
Wahab was later transferred to subs room as sub-editor and eventually was editor of the weekly centre spread entertainment, social pages. He was responsible for producing the weekly edition by coverage and reporting of social events. That’s to say the reward for his dedication and hardwork as very good proof reader. While he was a Proof Reader and sub-editor, editor, he had to liaise with the production section. This section comprised typesetting, paste up and graphic artists as well as the printing section. All the process was analogue era where the proof readers, sub-editors, few reporters, editors, had to do the leg work between the editorial department and other sections. But we enjoyed it despite that it was energy demanding. Wahab, and other editorial team were enmeshed in the system so much that there’s what could be termed unprogrammed break for lunch or brunch to take a breather and unwind.
Below is the post by Adagbo Onoja on Saturday 29th June on one of the journalists platforms.
“A post publication reaction to the Wahab Page story from a journalism elder in Kano has been received at Intervention. It reads:
“You may not have known which could be why you haven’t mentioned that he was one of the most efficient pioneer sub-editors of Sunday Triumph who made the first broadsheet newspaper in Nigeria what it was when it first appeared in 1982. That was when I knew him in person after having read his reports for years in the New Nigerian. He joined the Haroun Adamu boys to leave Triumph Publishing Company when Sabo Bakin Zuwo became governor in October, 1983.”
The portion highlighted above in italics is deliberately to buttress the fact that Wahab passed through NNN ‘training ‘school’ and the ‘school’ passed through him. He resigned from the NNN while he got a place in the Triumph in Kano and took the challenge of producing the Broadsheet as Chief Sub-editor with difference in pay package from his former employer the NNN which surprised many.
It’s not debatable that Wahab was a journalist to the core. Infact he eats and sleeps journalism despite being able to acquire extra qualification of PHD in law even at that old age. He was really determined to prove a point that there is no age barrier in education but determination. He had occasion to share his experience with me while pursuing the doctorate title.
I can testify that he rarely stayed one day without a newspaper even while he was pursuing the law degree. I recall when I confronted him at a newspaper stand how he was coping with patronizing newspaper with the law he was reading. He said, John, you know this (journalism) is my professional calling. I like journalism a lot. I can still return to the practice.
One fact remains, Wahab read newspapers critically with the journalistic training school NNN he passed through. Even with his Barrister or Dr he was always irritated with mistakes found in online publications in the platforms he was a member. He would not hesitate to comment or make corrections. He felt that NUJ as a professional union body is not doing anything to checkmate such terrible errors. He would say that these crop of journalists are not bothered about mistakes in their presentations to the reading public or that it would rub off on the image of the profession.
He was very good social commentator especially politics when a story went virile.
My friend Adagbo Onoja discussed the man’s social life vis-a-vis NUJ centre. My dear colleagues, friends and readers, our late friend did not stop patronizing centre even while he was a Barrister or PHD holder. He visited the centre many times adorned in his lawyer black suit even as he carried out his legal businesses at one of the business centres at the NUJ. This, NUJ centre, was a meeting point socially as well as to contact colleagues for your work materials or important information. Faces like late Ahmed Babatunde (AB) Ahmed, late Duro Irojah, Kinsley Hunohashi, Charles Bula former NUJ chairman and secretary respectively, Inusa Aliyu ex-NUJ chairman formerly of NTA, late Dayo Anthony NNN, late Francis Genger State radio, Mahmoon Baba-Ahmed ex-NNN, FRCN), Danjuma Mohammed Lawal (wangyu) were socialites of the old NUJ centre then opposite NNN. The present centre along Waff road remained his point of relaxation.
I recall how we were cruising round the then peaceful and sleeping Kaduna town with his Honda 175 motorcycle which was bought from motorcycles loan of 600 Naira by NNN. Then Police was your friend and would even advice you to be careful as the night was far spent. When he had recovered from his ear problem he landed at NUJ. Ditto when he recovered from surgery. He occasionally had his launch at late Mama Do’s eatery or takes away. It’s a place of relaxation until he couldn’t. I quickly recall that Page was the publicity secretary of the Kano State Council of the NUJ from 1981 to 1983 when Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim was the chairman. Upto his last days, he was not only visiting NUJ centre but was a strong member of the League of Veteran Journalists (LVJ) Kaduna chapter and he was at meetings just as he made valuable contributions. I hope you love this message. But I and many other friends, colleagues, family and relations, will dearly miss your association.
Adieu, my friend Wahab Page Igbuan. May the Angels take his soul to the feet of his maker. Amen.
–John FWAH