NPAN on late Leadership Publisher: Sam Nda-Isaiah told truth to power
Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah
Tributes have continued to pour in for the late publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, who passed on late Friday at 58 years of age.
Mourning one of its members, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) in a statement, described his death as a huge loss and devastating.
In a statement by its President and General Secretary, Malam Kabiru Yusuf and Alhaji Mohammed Idris, respectively, the association said the late publisher left indelible footprints in the annals of the nation’s media industry.
In a statement released Saturday, NPAN said: “The nation woke up this morning with the startling news of the death of one of the key investors in the Nigerian media, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, the Chairman and Publisher of Leadership Group of Newspapers. For us in the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), this huge loss is even more devastating and painful because Sam was not only a colleague but a friend to all in the industry.
“His commitment to the values and objectives of the association was unflagging to the very end; he was together with the rest of us only last week in Lagos, when elections into the national executive council of the NPAN were held, and Sam was elected as an ex-officio member.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah has left indelible footprints in the annals of the Nigerian media. He started as a publisher right away with Leadership Confidential, a subscription-based monthly newsletter which, in 2004, he transformed into Leadership, a gutsy, stylish weekly newspaper that caught the eye of Nigerians as soon as it hit the newsstands.
“As a popular columnist, Sam told the truth to power. His style was brash, bare-knuckle and unapologetic. For his constancy in that, he was mostly regarded as patriotic.
“His desire to transform his beliefs into policy made him to make a foray into party politics where he ran for president in the 2015 general elections. Politics made him to drop his column but the general direction of his newspapers was consistent with what he had been writing.
“The NPAN will sorely miss Sam as an active member and for his immense contribution to the development of journalism in Africa.
“We wish to console his dear wife Zainab and their children, as well as his extended family, friends and admirers with the fact that Sam’s concrete contributions to the development of this country in particular and the continent in general are visible and appreciated.”
‘A force in APC’
Extolling his virtues, the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the late newspaper mogul as a faithful party man, dedicated to the ideals the party stood for and fought for them strongly and passionately.
In a statement signed Sunday in Abuja by Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed on behalf of the Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee, the party said the country lost in Sam a man full to the brim of ideas and solutions.
He said: “In fact, he took the great leap to affirm the ideals he believed in by seeking to be the party’s Presidential flag bearer in our 2014 Presidential primary. He was part and parcel of the journey that brought our party to its formation, and ultimately the growth we have achieved in the last 6 years.
“Whenever the party gave tasks to Mr. Sam, they were carried out dutifully and with the highest sense of responsibility; this indeed was the classic Sam, a hard worker who was passionate about the growth and development of his community, party and his country.
“Mr. Nda-Isaiah set industry standards as a media practitioner and publisher. He is forever a reference point for media practitioners in Nigeria. Like the motto of his newspaper, Leadership Newspaper, “For God and Country”, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah was driven by faithfulness to God and patriotism to country in whatever decision he took. And Nigeria, as a country has been better because of Sam.
“The Chairman and Members of the Caretaker Committee deeply mourn this great loss and extend heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the media industry.”
Ayade, Abiodun mourn
In a similar tribute, Cross River state Governor Ben Ayade said his death was a monumental loss to the nation and the media industry.
In a press statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, and made available to our reporter, the governor said: “Sam died at his prime and at a time his rich input to the growth of the media industry in Nigeria was still needed.”
While praying to God to grant Nda-Isaiah’s soul a peaceful repose, Ayade said: “It was with rude shock and utter disbelief that I received the news of Sam’s demise. For Nigeria and for his immediate constituency, the media, this is a monumental loss, a sad, irreparable loss. Sam was simply one of the finest of the pack.”
The governor further urged Nda-Isaiah’s immediate family and the media industry to take the Leadership Newspaper publisher’s sudden death as God’s will, saying the publisher’s strides would remain a legacy.
“Since it has pleased God to recall Sam to His bosom at the prime of his career and age, we cannot but submit to His will for He alone knows why Sam had to leave us at this time.
“The Holy Bible admonishes us to praise God and give Him thanks in all situations, and so, I thank God for the very impactful and salutary life Sam lived, for according to Ralph Waldo Emerson, it is not the length of life, but depth of life,” Ayade stated.
Also, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state described the late media owner as a resolute and dogged fighter.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor expressed shock at the demise of the ebullient columnist, saying the country has lost a gem and the family cannot be the same again with the death of its breadwinner.
Sympathising with members of the fraternity of the pen, the NPAN and media practitioners generally, Governor Abiodun said Nda-Isaiah was a great pharmacist, consummate politician and entrepreneur.
“The country has lost a rare gem of big ideas, whose politics was laced with conviction, selflessness and without bitterness. I am still in shock. I was jolted by the news.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah was a resolute and dogged fighter on the side of the people. His columns, “Last Word” and “Ear Shot” were pungent and fought the good cause for a better Nigeria,” he said.
“A serial entrepreneur is gone. He had his hands in many pies and incredibly made a success of most of his endeavours”, Abiodun said of the deceased whom he referred to as “a friend and a man of ideas.”
“Through sheer creativity and entrepreneurship, he straddled the professions of pharmacy by training and became a successful newspapers’ manager. His discipleship also kept growing in politics and he once aspired to be the President of the country on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, the governor noted.
Praying for the soul of the late publisher, Abiodun said: “The loss of Nda-Isaiah will be felt across different spheres: the business community, in statecraft, among his family members, the Obafemi Awolowo University alumni and the academic world, in Nupeland and in APC, which he helped in midwifing. He was a trusted associate and competent bridge builder”
ADP
In yet another tribute, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) said the late publisher would long be remembered as a courageous compatriot and a pan-Nigerian who used his God-given platform of journalism to fight impunity, corruption and political disorderliness.
In a condolence message personally signed Sunday in Abuja by the national chairman of the opposition ADP, Engineer Yabagi Y. Sani, the party described the sudden death of Nda-Isiaha, who he called his brother, friend, political colleague and compatriot as great shock.
He said: “At mere 58 years, it is to his honour that he would be long-remembered as a courageous compatriot, a pan-Nigerian who relentlessly used his God-given platform of journalism to fight impunity, corruption and political disorderliness that greatly contributed to the prevailing stability and serenity on the nation’s democratic arena.
“As mere mortals, we are always saddened when the cold hands of death visit, in the case of Sam Nda-Isaiah, we must be comforted by the fact that he left behind remarkable and sterling legacies of an exemplary father who dotted and strived to give the very best of life to his children and wife; a great mentor who inspired many a young Nigerians in the course of their chosen careers; a phenomenal community leader who was always available and resourceful on issues of development in his place of birth and elsewhere that he lived.
“Our indefatigable, ebullient Pharmacist, Journalist, politician and entrepreneur bestrode our planet earth with determination, clear-sighted vision, while remaining faithful and committed to his creator.
“To members of his nucleus family, who will be celebrating the Christmas this year without the joy of the presence of their beloved father and bread-winner, we can only extend our love and deepest sympathies to you, enjoining you to find fortitude and comfort in the Lord. Also, take solace in the fact that your father lived an accomplished and fulfilled life.”
“While we pray for comfort in your heart, I admonish you to take solace in the hope that he is at peace with our creator. I pray that your hearts will be comforted and may the Almighty God grant him eternal rest,” the statement added.
FCT minister.
In another condolence message, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Muhammad Musa Bello described Nda-Isaiah as an epitome of hard work and patriotism, a bridge builder and a firm believer in the unity of Nigeria.
“Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah was an epitome of hard work, a firm believer in the unity of Nigeria and a great patriot. Although a pharmacist by training, through hard work and commitment to excellence, he founded the Leadership Group which has in its stable one of Nigeria’s foremost and most influential newspapers,” he said.
While praying for the repose of his soul, Malam Bello also prayed that the Almighty will grant his entire family and the Leadership Group the strength to bear the loss.
Mass educator gone –BCO
In a further tribute, the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) described the deceased media owner as a media educator and epitome of real democratic tenets.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Danladi Garba Pasali, described late Sam, as patriot and mass educator.
“Nigeria has continued to lose patriots, nationalists, and statesmen, the recent being the demise of Sam Nda-Isaiah, a gentleman whose immense contributions to nation building will continue to be remembered as posterity would also be kind to him,” it said.
The BCO said the late Sam was not only a democrat, but also an epitome of real democratic tenets and norms, noting that “one could found in late Sam, the democratic zeal to move every sector of the country to prosperity.”
It said: “He was a mass educator, translating great ideas applying pen and the media, for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Patriotic trail blazer- Olawepo-Hashim
Also, a presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections and business mogul, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has described Nda-Isaiah’s demise as a loss of inestimable value to Nigeria.
He said the late pharmacist-turned journalist, was a committed, patriotic bridge-builder and trailblazing Nigerian eager to contribute to the development of the country.
“The death of Mr. Sam Ndah-Isaiah, publisher of the Leadership stable of newspapers, has not only deprived the journalism profession of a committed and patriotic hand, but a Nigerian of repute whose contributions to national development within the period he lived, were of inestimable value.
“As a believer in God Almighty, I cannot question why such a person full of ideas for a much better Nigeria would die, so soon. The consolation, however, was that he was very visible on the political landscape and his activities towards nation building, would ever be cherished.
“I’ve personally lost a friend. Sam was a friend, a brother and ally. He was a fair minded and kind man. With him and our mutual friend, the late Governor of Niger state, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, we once worked together to create bridge of understanding across big divides.”
“I am happy Sam died an accomplished personality having established numerous businesses that brought people from diverse backgrounds, working together for a greater Nigeria.
“We had a common goal. We wanted to offer leadership at the highest level in Nigeria. He would always be remembered as a democrat, a man of uncommon courage who never hide his passion and love to offer leadership to his motherland.
“As we mourn the death of this great man, I pray Almighty God will continue to strengthen his family. To the wife and children, his larger family and the business organization he left behind, and to the Nupe Kingdom where he was the title holder of Kakaki Nupe, may Almighty God give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“The journalism world has lost a trail blazer, a pharmacist who became an excellent journalist, Nigeria has indeed, lost a bridge builder and supporter of good ideas,” the statement added.
Culled from blueprint.ng
