Una don hear am? Veteran journalist wey sabi the work, Yakubu Mohammed don japa from dis world, and e don do am at age 75. Dis legend wey co-found Newswatch Magazine die for Lagos after e gree illness chop am down late Tuesday night.
Born on April 4, 1950, for Ologba in Dekina Local Government Area for Kogi State, Yakubu na one of di stalwarts wey light up di Nigerian media. E spend over fifty years for journalism, and e no just dey carry dem patapata. Na im bring ethical reporting and investigative journalism come Nigeria wey dey shine like a diamond in di rough.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, don express im condolences for di loss, say Yakubu na true patriot wey believe in Nigeria with all im heart. He dey talk say, “Yakubu Mohammed na icon for di media practice. Him don create better path wey dem younger journalists dey waka today. He inspire plenty people to use their ink for societal change.”
As e go, Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State don also talk say Yakubu na original son of di soil wey carry im own weight for nation-building. E talk say e contributions to journalism and governance no sabi boundary.
Yakubu na man wey don serve in different capacities for New Nigerian Newspapers and National Concord before e co-found Newswatch in di mid-1980s. Di man no just sit down dey shine im eyes, but na im be di Managing Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer when dem dey run de magazine.
For last November, e launch im memoir wey dem call Beyond Expectations, and dis book dey carry plenty of im life story wey plenty people go wan read to understand di journey wey dis man go through. Na true talk, every journalist for Naija go miss dis man wey sabi tell truth and stand for wetin e believe.
Idris don urge di bereaved family and friends to find solace in di legacies wey Yakubu leave behind. E pray for di repose of im soul, make e rest for peace because dis man don work tire for di land of Nigeria.
Di news of Yakubu’s passing don shake everywhere, as e no just be journalist, but na person wey dey push for investigative journalism, especially during di dark days of military rule wey dey know no mercy. Heaven don gain another star, and we dey salute dis great man wey don come off for this world.
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