By Babajide Okeowo
The shocking death of the Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, has continued to elicit widespread eulogies and tributes from well-meaning Nigerians.
Leading the outpour of tributes was President Muhammadu Buhari who through his spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a condolence message in Abuja on Saturday condoled with the media industry, the Nda-Isaiah family, friends and associates of the deceased over the shocking death.
President Buhari described the deceased publisher as “a friend and ally.”
‘The country has lost a man of conviction, a resolute and dogged believer in a better Nigeria. He will be sorely missed. This is a massive fish gone out of the media ocean,” Buhari said of Nda-Isaiah.
Similarly, former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in a condolence message described the late Nda-Isaiah as an erudite journalist and columnist who deployed his creativity towards promoting peace, progress, and unity.
“I commiserate with the Nda- Isaiah family, the Nigerian media, his political associates, and all sympathisers on the demise of Sam Nda- Isaiah at the age of 58 after a brief illness.
As a politician, publisher, and entrepreneur, he was a man of deep commitment to solving many of the challenges within our country.
He will be missed by many members of our society, for his incisive commentary on the state of our nation and his patriotism.
I pray for consolation for members of his family and all affected by his death to take solace in the fact the late journalist lived an impactful life of service and he was an inspiration to many especially those within the media,” the condolence message read.
On his part, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, also condoled with the family and friends of Nda -Isaiah and the Nigerian newspaper industry.
Lawan describes as shocking the death of Ndah-Isaah at the young age of 58 years.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah fervently believed in the Nigerian project and this is reflected in his writings and the editorial focus and tone of his Leadership Newspaper.
His contributions as a public opinion shaper and principled politician are profound and have put his imprints on the Nigerian history despite his early home call,” Lawan says.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the death as painful, saying Nigeria had lost another patriotic and detribalised citizen.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Saturday, Sanwo-Olu said the late publisher’s eternal passage came at a time when Nigeria needed more of his knowledge and wealth of experience in different areas of endeavours.
The Governor added that the late Nda-Isaiah’s Leadership newspaper, which has been at the forefront of fighting for a better society had just honoured him along with some prominent Nigerians for modest contributions to humanity and was looking forward to attending the event.
“Death is not what anybody has control over. It will come when it’s time. It is painful that the late Nda-Isaiah left at a time when some of us were looking forward to the Leadership newspaper event” he said
Recall that the late Nda-Isaiah attended the Newspaper Proprietors of Nigeria (NPAN) meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday and died late Friday night after a brief illness. He was 58 years.
