With Sam’s death, Nigeria has without doubt lost just one of her greats. The Nigerian media has missing one of its shining lights. We have dropped a detribalised Nigerian, a wonderful mental, a man of wonderful strategies. At 58, he died way too shortly, when there was still so much for him to offer our dear beleaguered place.
It was with great shock that I been given the news of the passing on of Samuel Ndanusa Isaiah, usually recognised as Sam Nda-Isaiah. To most individuals, Ndah-Isaiah was a Nigerian political columnist, pharmacist, entrepreneur and journalist and the founder and chairman of the Leadership Newspaper Team. To me, he was much a lot more than that.
The lifestyle and instances of my late elder brother and good friend, Sam Ndah-Isaiah is a lesson on its very own. Regardless of teaching as a pharmacist, he was extraordinary in the liberal arts and recognized by a lot of as the conscience of the persons. His electric power of tips stood him out in each individual endeavour of everyday living. What he shed in remaining diminutive, he gained in an extremely endowed and hyperactive brain and a razor-sharp brain.
Sam’s pen was mightier than any sword. He wrote from the heart, and in his producing, you could see a sort, light, humble, virtuous, patriotic, and imaginative mind. He was from just one of the country’s minority ethnic groups. Nonetheless, by his views, speeches, and actions, he was the quintessential pan-Nigerian in each individual way achievable – an opponent of injustice, nepotism, and mediocrity.
I fulfilled “my chairman” for the initially time as a member of the National Assembly at times involving 2011 and 2012. Our very first interaction was fundamentally in excess of an argument on how southern Christians in Nigeria do not take pleasure in the challenges confronted by northern Christians. I was impressed by his in-depth information of concerns, and I could feel the raw flame of patriotism burning within him. A friendship struck from that meeting, which would previous until his very last breath on earth. Certainly, it was a fulfilling friendship.
Often, he would audio me out on nationwide problems and remind me how, as customers of the Nationwide Assembly, my colleagues and I were being failing the Nigerian people today. I would generally try to set up a defence about our perceived shortcomings as legislators, but he was usually swift to place out the flaws in my excuses, which he referred to as “lame duck”. When I ran for the governorship of Rivers Condition, he confirmed more than a passing interest in my political quest and thought that I ran a person of the most effective strategies ever in the nation at that time. He inspired me not to give up, as he assumed my time would inevitably occur a time when Nigerians would vote on the quality of a applicant and his or her ideas and not on ethnicity, money or control of the electrical power of violence.
When Sam finally introduced himself as a applicant for the business of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I was stunned. I had in no way known him to be a rich gentleman who could foot the huge expenses of a presidential campaign, nor did I know of a effective bloc in the land backing his candidature. My knowledge of politics is not elementary, so when I see a possible applicant who can make an affect, I would definitely know.
He engaged me a number of moments and saved on keeping to the proposition that Nigeria, as a nation, requirements his concepts. I agreed with him about concepts but my posture was that the presidency of Nigeria was beyond terrific suggestions. The profitable argument of thoughts may possibly come shortly but not at current.
In the course of our engagements, I noticed his deep faith in God, his belief in the ability of his tips, a brave temperament, and an plain patriotic spirit. He ran that marketing campaign on the concept of “big ideas”. He brought a new flavour of mental engagement to his presidential campaign. It was clear from the way he ran his campaign that there was a thing amazing about the boldness of his thoughts and vision for the region that captivated youthful people to guidance him in huge numbers.
Sam was a proponent of a new social and economic purchase based on awareness, meritocracy, equity, and justice. Through the presidential race, his command of text, deep philosophical mien, amiable temperament, and national community of friends became arsenals at his disposal items revenue cannot acquire. He lost the presidential primaries of his bash but made a lot of buddies in the procedure, people who acquired attracted to his admirable personality and great strategies.
Sam Ndah-Isaiah experienced various suggestions for what he known as the second 50 percent of his lifestyle. He shared with all who cared that he desired a nation he could be happy of, a Nigeria that operates for all her people today, in which protection is inescapable. His passion for Nigeria was both evident and infectious.
He was a pharmacist, an activist at heart, and a fighter for the oppressed by preference. Sam was a courageous entrepreneur. To have migrated his fortunes from the additional rewarding subject of pharmacy to the more dangerous and perilous spot of the media demanded remarkable courage. It testifies to a intellect additional intent on bringing about social and political alter than in a bulging lender equilibrium. With 3 masters’ degrees and a PhD, he was a legitimate mental. His e-book, Complete Disclosure: Selected Writings on Governance, Democracy and Statecraft, May perhaps 1999 – March 2004 was a celebration of excellent thoughts and thoughts from a deep thinker and male of information.
His writings are a mirror picture of who we are. Our country could have learned who we are by his pen. He dared to say things the way they were being. He spoke reality to electric power, no make a difference the outcomes.
Sam’s weekly column, “Last Word and Earshot”, which he began from Everyday Trust, prior to he took it to Leadership newspaper, was a celebration of mental sagacity, huge articulation, and unheard of erudition. It was a person of the most well-liked weekly columns in Nigeria. Just about every time you browse it, you occur throughout something novel, anything motivating and one thing inspirational.
When I experienced the privilege to provide as the director common/chief government officer of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Security Company (NIMASA), he gave me just one worthwhile tips, “Nigerians be expecting you to depart above board supplied your qualifications, antecedent and exposure, you cannot pay for to disappoint your generation”. He was always inclined to give me whatever guidance I desired. He considered that flashes of excellent leaders listed here and there in our region could direct to the development of a crucial mass that can improve the region.
At the close of my term in NIMASA, my good friends broached the concept of my accomplishing a weekly column in a newspaper, so my thoughts and strategies could affect men and women at the national and worldwide levels. I required Each day Belief or Leadership for some symbolic rationale, and once more my chairman was ever there to guidance my desires. He only cautioned that performing a column could put me in trouble. I thanked and confident him that the long term of Nigeria is a far more substantial venture than my consolation.
Sam Ndah-Isaiah had distinctive thoughts for what he referred to as the second half of his everyday living. He shared with all who cared that he required a state he could be very pleased of, a Nigeria that operates for all her people today, in which security is unavoidable. His enthusiasm for Nigeria was each apparent and infectious.
He was in a hurry to make the Leadership team a behemoth of a type in the media landscape of Nigeria. He shared with me his designs to deliver in other buyers into the small business and institutionalise finest company governance procedures. My chairman was foresighted and experienced predicted that the long run is about technologies, and if a single does not perform in the room, a person will not be related. One particular challenge he was passionate about was how to get the Management newspaper to contend at the worldwide amount.
Sam lived forward of his time. He was as well severe about the Nigerian project that, with the profit of hindsight, he must have presented himself much more humour. He was a important identity in the media organization, in politics, in countrywide lifetime, but was not a fulfilled male simply because Nigeria is yet to fulfil her potentials.
He designed an massive contribution to modern society. He fought for the superior of Nigeria and Africa. He was section of that rare breed of great minds who excel in both of those scientific enquiry and liberal creative imagination. A real gentleman of impeccable pedigree, Sam exuded wonderful intellect and self-assurance to realize success wherever many unsuccessful.
Legends, like Sam Ndah-Isaiah, occur after in a prolonged while and very normally leave us when we have to have them most to manual us realize all those excellent dreams they have come to start. His operates and suggestions will carry on to encourage us. He has finished his component. It is still left for those people of us on this component of life to carry on his very good operates and ensure we bequeath a state Sam will be very pleased.
He will transform in his grave right until we find an enduring alternative to these issues plaguing our nation for which he was concerned – worsening insecurity, a widening ethnic divide and cyclic poverty.
Sam will experience harm on the abduction of about 600 faculty little ones from their dormitory at the Authorities Secondary University (GSSS), Kankara, Katsina Point out, by suspected bandits about previous Friday. The Katsina incident, which transpired barely 8 days right after Boko Haram slaughtered around 100 farmers in Borno State, amid other violent incidents, have continued to lend credence to the worsening insecurity in the country.
He built an tremendous contribution to culture. He fought for the good of Nigeria and Africa. He was portion of that uncommon breed of good minds who excel in the two scientific enquiry and liberal creativeness. A genuine gentleman of impeccable pedigree, Sam exuded excellent intellect and confidence to do well the place quite a few failed.
Sam was not a saint, even while he adorned white cloths most of the time, to match his regular Nupe purple cap. He, like other human beings, experienced his shortcomings. He was guilty of impatience. He was not tolerant of laziness, pettiness, and dishonesty. He was normally in a hurry to accomplish results, leaving him with little time for procedures. At times hoping to please his friend,s he could overcommit himself. He was a liberal soul, and incredibly normally, that is at cross reasons with shrewd entrepreneurs.
Having said that, his aspiration of a greater Nigeria life on. He has passed the baton to his compatriots, and we will have to not permit him down. We have to retain the war versus underdevelopment, insecurity and audacious impunity raging right until we generate a new Nigeria. A Nigeria that Sam hoped to see in his lifetime. A Nigeria where prosperity, peace and development will be the anchor. A Nigeria that will truly be the beacon of hope for the Blackman and a giant of Africa.
With Sam’s loss of life, Nigeria has certainly lost 1 of her greats. The Nigerian media has missing just one of its shining lights. We have dropped a detribalised Nigerian, a excellent mental, a gentleman of fantastic concepts. At 58, he died too shortly, when there was continue to so a lot for him to give our pricey beleaguered nation.
I will surely overlook my elder brother and good friend, Sam Nda-Isaiah. Could the almighty God grant him everlasting relaxation and give his relatives the fortitude to bear the decline of their beloved.
Adieu, my chairman.
Dakuku Peterside is a policy and management professional.