By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday described his late Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Dalhatu Imam as an honest, unassuming, humane and humble personality with undoubtful professional and interpersonal skills.
According to the Governor ” he was faithful and committed to the ideals that brought us together as I became Speaker which he remained untempted by other interest within the HoRs. “
Tambuwal who made the dispassionate remark in Sokoto at the special memorial lecture organised for late Imam Imam by the
Sokoto state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) to kick start the union’s 2018 annual Press Week activities said his choice of the deceased was influenced by his sense of resilience, display of professionalism and dedication.
” My choice of late Imam Imam was the right thing in the course of my journey to this level. He did extremely excellent to ensure my image and that of the HoRs then was not tempted to ridicule.
” He was committed to my struggle of the Speakership of the HoRs because he was with and by me. He traversed with me all the length and breadth of Nigeria especially within the media family.”
The memorial lecture attended by media practitioners, associates and friends of the late Imam was not without tears rolling on the cheeks of colleagues who recalled their individual experience and moments with the deceased in the course of duties.
All these, Tambuwal said ” I have evaluated and found him worthy to continue with him as my Media Aide with ease”, he stated.
However, the governor maintained that he made the right choice of someone that could serve and deliver creditably well.
” Though, I was sandwitched by lot of recommendations and choices of various persons for the appointment but his appointment had finally vindicated my choice of him considering his abilities and input as a professional who also came from a reverred family background of a devout father and Islamic scholar.
” Imam was endowed and from a respected family setting. He was not arrogant nor specially pumpose but lived a humble and tolerant life till the last day”, he mentioned.
The governor, however, while giving testimonies of how Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar drove to the family house of the late Imam to condole them added” It is a clear evidence that Imam was a good fellow.”
Tambuwal further recalled when Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote visited Sokoto, ” Imam was every where. He worked assiduously to ensure the success of the visit.
” I wish everyone out of the many countries and places we visited on similar mission was as professional and upright like you, we would have no problems. I must sincerly commend you and the MC’ Abdullahi S. Danko’ “, an official on the entourage of Bill Gates wrote to late Imam shortly after the visit, the Governor read out at the lecture hall and auditorium of the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, Sokoto.
Guest Speaker at the memorial lecture and Head, News and Current Affairs, Liberty Television and Radio, Kaduna, Abdul’aziz Ahmed Kabir extolled the late Special Adviser as a wonderful professional colleague who did not only brought to fore the image of the profession to bare but stemmed his passion and resilience for personal relations.
” He was a resilient professional who had achieved so much at a young age. He was not forward but ready to learn and willing to share with and encourage others”, he said.
Kabir who had been a close colleague and associate of the deceased Special Adviser said” Imam started his journalism carreer with New Nigerian Newspaper in Kaduna after obtaining HND in Mass Communications from Kaduna Polytechnic.”
Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in, in honour of the late Media Aide which included those of Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, Chairman, Sokoto state Special Advisers Forum, Director General/MD Sokoto state Media Corporation, Alhaji Abubakar Shekara and Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Commissioner for Energy.
However, special prayers were offered for the repose of the deceased with vote of thanks by the NUJ Zonal Secretary, Shehu Ahmed
