….. as State House Press Corps holds special tribute session
The chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila were among the dignitaries on Thursday who signed a condolence register to mourn veteran journalist Kabiru Yusuf, a presidential correspondent who died this week.
Yusuf has over two decades of media experience covering Aso Rock and represented Triumph newspaper at some point and Radio France International (RFI), until his death.
The signing of the condolence register came alongside a special tribute session organized by the SHPC to mourn the veteran journalist who has contributed immensely to the stability and unity of the presidential press corps.
Yusuf served as chairman of the elite press corps and held other official positions in the SHPC while reporting from the presidency.
Other dignitaries who signed the condolence register on Thursday are the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.
In his tribute after signing the condolence register, the Minister of information described the death of
Yusuf has since been buried according to Muslim rites as a complete gentleman.
He said the death was a shock to the media industry and Nigeria considering the huge contribution of the late veteran journalist.
“You will agree with me that Mallam Kabiru Yusuf’s disposition and professionalism endeared him to so many.”
“He is so simple and unassuming, always sitting here on the front row without talking much but each time he had cause to say something, he said it with diligence and in a way that does not hurt anyone,” the Minister added.
The information minister who prayed to God to rest his soul said his death was a constant reminder of all of the temporariness of life.
“Now one of us is gone we don’t know who is next and death is surely something that all of us taste, but I do hope that we will enjoy and have the best relationships for as long as this life ends and we also pray that God will give us His blessings when our own time comes.”
READ ALSO: Governors okay with S’Court ruling on LGs’ autonomy
He sympathized with the press corps saying, “I know that it is a sad moment for you but don’t lose your focus. We that remain will continue to fight what Kabiru Yusuf fought for, trying to see that we have a great country and we will all be proud of.”
Nkwocha, while paying tribute to Yusuf, fondly referred to as “Kabiru Sokoto”, described him as hardworking and said his death should unite the press corps.
Chairman of the State House Press Corps, Dr. Emmanuel Anule of AFP, went down memory lane, recalling how the late Yusuf helped him when he was first posted to the Presidential Villa.
He regretted that the late Yusuf who had written his memoir did not live long enough to publish it.
“May God help us to clear our tables because someday it will be our turn to go”, Festus Fifen of Ben Television admonished colleagues.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier extended his condolences to Yusuf’s family, praying for the repose of his soul and offering comfort to his loved ones in this time of grief.
