Elegy to Malam Yaya Abubakar

When early last year I was invited by the Management of NTA News to be one of the resources persons at a capacity building workshop as part of their preparations for the 2015 elections I took it in my stride and thought that it was going to be another stroll in the park confident that […]

When early last year I was invited by the Management of NTA News to be one of the resources persons at a capacity building workshop as part of their preparations for the 2015 elections I took it in my stride and thought that it was going to be another stroll in the park confident that my years of experience in the business of broadcast journalism were more than adequate for the exercise and would therefore stand me in good stead.  This confident posture and mien however changed dramatically when, on further probing, I was told that I was going to speak alongside Malam Yaya Abubakar.  To say that I was jolted by this information will be correct; to say that my confidence was shaken will also be correct because I was surely brought down to earth by the realization that I was going to be in the company of a man who was not only a guru in the field of broadcasting but also a man who had tutored, guided and mentored me in my journey on that turf. However the paralysis of crippling petrification that usually comes with the thought of sitting side by side with such a man on the same pedestal soon dissipated and I braced myself for an event that was surely going to be immensely fulfilling and rewarding not only for the reporters but for yours truly, as well.  I spent some time and readied my self as best I could and waited for the D-day – another day with Malam Yaya Abubakar to relish and cherish. And how absolutely right I was proven!
On that day in Katsina, the capital of Katsina State, Malam Yaya Abubakar declined to speak first and ordered (yes, ordered because in that sort of gathering where everyone from the Resource Persons, the organizers to the participants respected the man’s professional awesomeness his decision was not contestable).  In retrospect that decision was apt for me because if he had chosen to go first, the wind would have been taken out of the sails of my presentation making it superfluous – an anti-climax. Again my trepidation of the man’s professionalism almost got the better of me but I took a deep breath, said a silent prayer and began my presentation which took some forty-five minutes.  Throughout my intervention Malam Yaya Abubakar remained stoic – no interruption, interrogation or inquisition – taking copious notes.
After the presentation during which I had focused on Best Practices In Election Coverage and Reporting, Malam Yaya shook my hand and announced that I had said it all and he was not going to dwell any further on that aspect of the engagement. Coming from such a thorough – bred professional that was the best compliment and commendation one could wish for.  I savoured it.  For his own presentation he treated us to a look across time at his days as NTA’s Director of News – the days during which NTA’s Directorate of News came of age in terms of professionalism, innovativeness and above all believability.  He talked about the conceptualization of the network news format, Newsweek, Saturday Sports, Newsline, the introduction of commercial news known as Let Them Pay (LTP) and other magnetic news programmes.  He talked about NTA news icons like the late Yinka Graig, John Chiahamen, Chris Anyanwu, late Walter Oyatogun and Fabio Olanipekun among others and how these giants worked tirelessly to keep the flag flying at full mast.  He talked about his second-in-command late Yahaya Sanni and the symbiosis and synergy that marked their relationship.  While enjoying the journey down memory lane we all wondered what it had to do with the issue at hand – preparing the participants for effective coverage of the 2015 elections.  And then came the connection in the form of the questions he posed to wit “What has happened to professionalism, innovativeness and believability in today’s NTA?.” “Why is NTA no longer setting the pace?” and most crucially “Why is NTA news now struggling?” The questions, he said, were not meant for the participants or the resource persons but for the organizers to ponder, ruminate and forward to the top management of the NTA for urgent action.  It is instructive to note that the man never once alluded to his many glorious and edifying moments as Director of News choosing instead to shower encomia on his subordinates.  That was vintage Yaya Abubakar – always avoiding the limelight only coming out forcefully to protect his wards when the occasion called for it.  One such case was when NTA news went to town with the story of the “death” of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.  The story as it turned out was a fallacy and Malam Yaya Abubakar took full responsibility and refused to, in a manner speaking, throw any of his subordinates on the rail track.  He was suspended but recalled after only a few days.
His stint as Director-General Voice of Nigeria (VON) was eventful in many respects with many challenges strewn along his path.  Perhaps the greatest challenge was personal but at the end of the day he weathered the storm, exorcised the demons and emerged stronger and more pious – thanks to his strength of character, a loving wife (deceased before him) and the prayers of all of us forever in his debt.  Next to his family I am perhaps the most pained by his demise, for he was a man whose professional footprints I had traced twice –  as General-Manager NTA Bauchi and then as NTA’s Director of news.  I even had the privilege of moving into the house he had once live in as General Manager NTA Bauchi.,
Death has once again victimized the Nigerian broadcasting world.  More than a year ago we lost Mr. Jimmy Atte and now we are also without Malam Yaya Abubakar – two men who stood with readiness and determination for all of us.  As we mourn let us today rededicate ourselves to their lofty ideals. Malam Yaya Abubakar still lives in his boys (we are all referred to as “Yaya’s boys”) in NTA, Channels, AIT, FRCN, VON and NNPC (yes, the NNPC).
Mohammed was a former Director of News, NTA.