Shittu Ahmed Obasa
I was for the first time dumb founded on Monday when Sa’adatu Umar broke the sad story on her Facebook that her brother, Yahaya Umar, had died.
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I looked at the picture embossed on the story many times to be sure that the name mentioned tallied with the young face there.
Subsequently, Senator Shehu Sani mentioned him on his Facebook wall, recalling his days as a unionist in the 80’s at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna where he was the Director of Socials and the designation got attached to his name until he got transferred to Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Network news as a newscaster.
I also took my time to look at the candid picture he had with Umar Socials at an unidentified occasion possibly in Kaduna to be double sure.
The sad event didn’t sink until I listened to the Radio Nigeria Network News at 10’0 clock last night and the playback of the news bulletin he read was done and that baritone voice came alive where he read the top stories on Thursday including the Supreme Court’s judgment setting aside the judgments of the Kebbi State High Court and Appeal Court on the reinstatement of the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo bringing to an end the emirship tussle between two cousins that lasted 19 years.
Normally, when a renowned newscaster dies the Radio Nigeria plays back his voice for the last time before announcing his or her demise.
I remember the passing of Austin Okonma and Veronica Osawere in this regard. Tributes were duly paid to them for their meritorious services to the nation.
The death of Umar Socials was a rude shock to me to put it mildly. But, certainly Allah (SWT) knows best.And who are we to question His decision at any time?
My friend, Idris Usman Freshkid has revealed that he died in the studio of the corporation and the dead body was found the following morning.
For 33 years Umar Socials had worked for Radio Nigeria and the management ought to have known he had issues with his health.
Now he is dead. I believe they will find his replacement having buried him in Gudu Muslim cemetery. How more callous can the authorities managing government agencies be than this?
Late Umar Socials was among the finest newscasters moved from Kaduna National Station to the headquarters after he joined the services of the FRCN in 1992.
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The decision to move him to Abuja took place at the time Barrister Yusuf Nuhu succeeded Mr. Eddy Iroh as the Director-General of the corporation.
Not only him was affected by the relocation Nura Mohammed and Zainab Khaleel followed suit.
This was after Medina Dauda got her marching order to the headquarters but she subsequently left for Voice of America( VOA) where she is till date,waxing stronger like the elegant stallion.
Thereafter, we had persons like Terse Mmzuugha who is now the D-G of Voice of Benue and Isaac Bari who retired successfully.
For so long, Umar Socials was on the newcasting of Radio Nigeria and I was wondering whether or not it was deliberate.
One day I ran into him on Arab Road near Kubwa many years ago without him knowing I was behind him. He was trekking.
To me, Umar Socials had paid his dues to be able to have a mobility but there he was trekking to catch a public transport to work.
The last I met him was at Area 10 Juma’at Mosque in 2019 and I called him out” King of the Boys” and he answered me jovially as we went right inside the mosque to offer prayers.
Shortly after the Jumaat Service, I invited him to my daughter’s wedding which took place on September 7 the same year, but he did not honour the invite.
In Kaduna, while we were there together we had a good rapport. Time was, he got me to interview one businesswoman along Alkali Road.
Since then, each time we ran into each other at the premises of the radio station we exchanged pleasantries after hailing him ” King of the Boys”and parted ways.
Late Umar Socials had made his mark in the broadcast industry but his hard work, dedication and commitment did not show in my estimate in his level of success.
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In his remarks on radio last night the President of the joint association of professionals at the headoffice, Mr. Terso Zamber, pointed out the need for the management to prioritise the issue of staff welfare so that the rate of sudden deaths among the staff could reduce drastically before or after retirement.
I wish to condole with the immediate family of this ace newscaster praying that Allah forgives his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen Ya Rabbil Izzatti.