President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the death of Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, describing him as “a friend and ally.”
The president, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday condoled with the media fraternity, the Nda-Isaiah family, friends and associates of the deceased.
‘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 the pharmacist, renowned columnist, and one time presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The late Nda-Isaiah attended the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday where Daily Trust publisher, Kabir Yusuf, emerged new president of the association.
The deceased was alongside publisher of The Pilot, Prince Dannis Sami and Ray Ekpu, a past president of the association nominated without opposition as ex-officios of the NPAN.
Nda-Isaiah, aged 58, died late Friday night after a brief illness.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has condoled with the family, Nigerian newspaper industry and friends of Nda-Isaiah.
Lawan in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja on Saturday, also commiserated with NPAN, government and people of Niger State, over the loss.
He described as shocking, the death of the pharmacist-turned newspaper columnist, publisher and politician at the young age of 58 years.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah fervently believed in the Nigerian project and this reflected in his writings and the editorial focus and tone of his Leadership Newspaper.
“His contributions as a public opinion shaper and principled politician were profound and had put his imprints on the Nigerian history in spite of his early home call,” Lawan said.
The senate president prayed for sweet repose of his soul and for comfort for his loved ones in this period of their grief and after
NPAN, in a statement by its President, Malam Kabiru A. Yusuf, and Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said:
“The nation woke up this morning with the startling news of the death of one of the key investors in the Nigerian media, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, the Chairman and Publisher of Leadership Group of Newspapers. For us in the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), this huge loss is even more devastating and painful because Sam was not only a colleague but a friend to all in the industry.
“His commitment to the values and objectives of the association was unflagging to the very end; he was together with the rest of us only last week in Lagos, when elections into the national executive council of the NPAN were held, and Sam was elected as an ex-officio member.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah has left indelible footprints in the annals of the Nigerian media. He started as a publisher right away with Leadership Confidential, a subscription-based monthly newsletter which, in 2004, he transformed into Leadership, a gutsy, stylish weekly newspaper that caught the eye of Nigerians as soon as it hit the newsstands.
“As a popular columnist, Sam told the truth to power. His style was brash, bare-knuckle and unapologetic. For his constancy in that, he was mostly regarded as patriotic.
“His desire to transform his beliefs into policy made him to make a foray into party politics where he ran for president in the 2015 general elections. Politics made him to drop his column but the general direction of his newspapers was consistent with what he had been writing.
“The NPAN will sorely miss Sam as an active member and for his immense contribution to the development of journalism in Africa.
“We wish to console his dear wife Zainab and their children, as well as his extended family, friends and admirers with the fact that Sam’s concrete contributions to the development of this country in particular and the continent in general are visible and appreciated.
“May his soul rest in peace, amen”.
Also, the Internatonal Press Institute (IPI), in a statement by its Chairman in Nigeria, Kabiru Yusuf, and Secretary, Raheem Adedoyin, said: “We received with disbelief and shock, news of the death of Mr. Sam Nda- Isaiah, Publisher of the Leadership Newspapers and Patron of IPI.
“We mourn Mr. Nda-Isaiah’s death of at a time his services are still needed in the media industry and in the nation.
“We offer our condolences to the family of our departed colleague, to the staff and management of Leadership Newspaper and to the entire media community.
“May God Almighty accept the soul of Mr. Nda-Isaiah and give the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has mourned the death of Nda-Isaiah, who he described as a courageous and conscientious journalist and columnist.
In an emotional statement by his Media Office and signed by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said he had a cordial relationship with Nda-Isaiah.
He said: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Leadership Newspaper publisher, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.
“He was a friend and associate. We had a built cordial relationship between us long before we founded the APC together with others and before he contested for the presidential ticket at the primaries of our party in 2014.
“As a journalist and columnist, he was bold, courageous, and conscientious. A pharmacist, he made an audacious move when he founded the Leadership newspaper in 2001.
Nda-Isaiah was not only a newspaper publisher, he was also an entrepreneur with varied business interests.
“His death is a blow to the journalism profession, which he served with all his heart. Perhaps, his last major appearance was last Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria held in Lagos. My condolences to the NPAN. I commiserate with the management and staff of Leadership newspaper.
“I mourn in particular with his wife, children, and relations. May Almighty Allah comfort them and give them the strength to cope with this sudden death of their patriarch. I also extend my condolences to Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, the government and people of Niger State for the loss of their illustrious son. I pray that the soul of our friend, Nda-Isaiah, find eternal rest.”
Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu, described the demise of Nda-Isaiah as a huge loss to the media industry and Nigeria at large.
Kalu, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, extolled the virtues of the deceased.
He stressed that the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a patriotic statesman and detribalised Nigerian with passion for a prosperous and united Nigeria.
He lauded the worthy legacies of the late publisher and admonished family members, friends and associates of the deceased to sustain his good deeds.
Kalu noted that the late media guru contributed immensely to the media industry locally and internationally.
The chief whip of the senate, also commiserated with people and government of Niger, adding that the late Ndah-Isaiah was a notable figure beyond the media industry.
“The passing of the publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Ndah-Isaiah, is a big loss to Nigeria.
“The deceased played various roles in nation building as a columnist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician. The late publisher was dogged, humble, forthright and consistent.
“His invaluable contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria are worthy of commendation and emulation. The late media guru, no doubt, will forever be remembered for his good legacies,” Kalu said.
Kalu, who also condoled with NPAN and other stakeholders in the media industry, prayed God to rest the soul of Nda-Isaiah and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) expressed shock over the death of Nda-Isaiah.
This is contained in a condolence message by the chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, on Saturday in Jos.
Lalong, in the message by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, described the death as “shocking and devastating.”
He said the death of Nda-Isaiah is a sad development, not only to the northern region but the nation at large.
“This is a very sad development for the country as we have lost one of the most vibrant and courageous media entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
“Sam was a visionary man who believed in the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.
“He did so through his writings and contributions which reflected his passion for a strong democratic culture,” he said.
Lalong said the deceased was a successful businessman who had big dream to succeed.
“His big dream led to the birth and nurturing of the Leadership Newspapers that has grown to become one of the leading newspapers in the country.
“He will be greatly missed for his patriotism, selflessness and courage in the service to Nigeria.
“He will also be remembered for his great legacies of hard work and mentorship which has inspired many youths to dream big and realise their ambitions in life,”Lalong added.
The governor prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family, friends and associates.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the death as painful, saying Nigeria has lost another patriotic and detribalised citizen.
Sanwo-Olu commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, the immediate family of the deceased, his friends and associates as well as the media industry, where the late Nda-Isaiah was a major player.
In a statement signed on his behalf 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.
He said: “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.”
“It is my prayer that God will grant him eternal rest and grant his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He will be sorely missed.”
The late Nda-Isaiah who trained as a pharmacist, was a renowned columnist, and one time presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He died yesterday at the age of 58.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed huge shock and immense sadness at the death of
Nda-Isaiah.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Minister said
Nda-Isaiah’s death is a great loss, not just to his family and the media industry but to the nation at large.
”True to the motto of his newspaper, ‘For God and Country’,
Nda-Isaiah lived for his family, as well as for God and country. He
had an unwavering belief in Nigeria and its ability to overcome its
challenges and become a foremost member of the comity nations. For
him, it was not just a belief, it was a mantra.
”He demonstrated his abiding faith in the country not just in words
but in deed. Where many saw challenges, he saw opportunity. Where many
peddled fear, he preached hope. When many chose to fire darts, he
opted to soothe nerves. He was indeed a great Nigeria and a true
friend and brother,” he said.
Mohammed said Nda-Isaiah’s can-do spirit saw him record success
after success, either as a publisher, politician or an entrepreneur.
”We, as a people, are poorer without this visionary of a man. We can
only take solace in the great legacy he left behind,” he said.
The Minister prayed that God will take Nda-Isaiah to his bosom and
give strength and comfort to his family and friends in this dark
moment.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has mourned the death of Nda-Isaiah.
Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described Nda-Isaiah’s death as a monumental loss to the country in general, the media industry in particular and the All Progressives Congress (APC), on whose platform he had aspired to the country’s number one position in 2015.
The Governor said he received the news of the demise of the former presidential aspirant with shock and a sense of loss as the renowned Pharmacist turned Media mogul never showed any sign of illness during their last meeting.
Describing the deceased as a personal friend and a patriot who fought for a better Nigeria, Fayemi said the death of Nda-Isaiah had robbed the country of a detribalised Nigerian who was an incurable optimist of a greater and stronger Nigeria which he used his prime position in the media to advocate.
Fayemi said Nda-Isaiah excelled in his primary field of Pharmacy and also shone as a media entrepreneur, a columnist and an advocate for a united Nigeria.
The governor recalled that the deceased ran a colourful and issue-based campaign as a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the run-up to the 2015 general elections where he espoused his vision for the country. “He was an apostle of politics without bitterness and a lover and promoter of good governance”, he added.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum regretted that Nda-Isaiah, whom he described as an innovative entrepreneur and decent politician, died at his prime, at a time when his contribution to nation building was needed.
“This is a huge loss. We have lost a patriot who was ever positive about the greatness of the country.”, he said.
Fayemi urged the family, associates and admirers of the deceased to be consoled by the worthy legacies he left behind and the positive impact he made in all his endeavours.
The Governor said “the thoughts and prayers of the Government and good people of Ekiti State are with the immediate family of the deceased, management of the Leadership newspaper, which he birthed and nurtured.
“May God grant him eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”, he added.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said that the death of Nda-Isaiah was painful and shocking.
Ortom gave his condolences in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase, on Saturday in Makurdi.
The governor described the late Nda-Isaiah as a “true patriot” who, though a pharmacist by training, made indelible contributions to the growth of the media industry.
He said that the late publisher also offered jobs to hundreds of Nigerians through his companies.
He condoled with the government and people of Niger, the Leadership newspaper and the Nda-Isaiah family in particular.
He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said Nda-Isaiah would be missed for his incisive and poignant contributions to nation- building.
Sule, who stated this in a statement he personally signed on Saturday in Lafia, also described Nda-Isaiah as a “consummate newsman,” whose death was not only a loss to the media industry but the country at large.
The governor said he received the news of the death of the publisher with a shock.
“This death is a great loss that has robbed us of a consummate news man whose patriotism and love for a better Nigeria is not in doubt.
” His incisive and poignant contributions to national discourse will be greatly missed.
“He was resolute, a man of conviction and a dependable ally.
“I, on behalf of the government and people of Nasarawa state, condole with the family members of the deceased, the staff and management of the Leadership Group as well as friends and associates of the late Nda-Isaiah,” Sule said.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State expressed grief over the sudden death of Nda-Isaiah
AbdulRazaq, in a statement in Ilorin on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, described the death of Nda-Isaiah as a monumental loss to the media industry and the country as a whole.
“The death of Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah is one tragedy too many and we join in the national mourning of this media icon and patriot.
“His death painfully depletes the ranks of patriots who would go to any length to protect the honour of our fatherland.
“The whole country will miss Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah for his unimpeachable contributions to media development, his brilliant writings and his undisguised love for the country,” AbdulRazaq said.
According to the governor, those who knew the publisher would understand the strength of his character and the depth of his humanity.
“My brief conversation with him a few days ago following the unveiling of the Leadership’s 2020 Awards once more underscored his passion for development that truly impacts on the lives of the masses.
“Adieu, Sam! On behalf of my family, the government and people of Kwara State, I commiserate with the people and government of Niger State.
“I also commiserate with his immediate family, the media in Nigeria and the Leadership family in particular over this grievous development.
“May the Almighty God comfort the bereaved and rest the soul of Sam,” AbdulRazaq said.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State described the death as shocking and difficult to come to terms with.
Bello made the remarks in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, on Saturday in Lokoja.
The governor said that he was still struggling to come to terms with the reality of the death of the media icon, who died on Friday night in Abuja following a brief illness at the age of 58.
He described Nda-Isaiah as a “patriotic, quintessential and dogged media guru’’, who was passionate about the growth and development of his country, Nigeria.
The governor said that the deceased publisher, since the establishment of his newspaper in 2001, had used the medium to promote issues that engender peace, unity and overall development of Nigeria.
“We can visibly notice your patriotism for our great country right from the slogan of your newspaper, which is ‘For God and Country’.
“You have demonstrated uncommon passion and patriotic zeal in the defence of Nigeria through your style of reportage.
“You were a leading light and torch-bearer as far as Nigeria’s media landscape is concerned.
“Your courage and fearlessness in defending the truth remain unprecedented.
“You have left behind a great vacuum difficult to fill,’’ Bello said.
He held that his administration since inception in 2016, had enjoyed a robust relationship with the Leadership Newspaper under the chairmanship of Sam Nda-Isaiah.
The newspaper and its publisher, according to the governor, had been very supportive in terms of effective coverage and reportage of the achievements and gains of his administration over the last five years.
He expressed the sympathies of the government and people of Kogi to the family of the late publisher, management and staff of the newspaper as well as friends and well-wishers of Nda-Isaiah over the sad loss.
He prayed to God to grant his soul eternal rest and fortitude for his family, loved ones and well-wishers to bear the irreparable loss.
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State and chairman, North Central Governors Forum, said he received with shock news of the demise of Nda-Isaiah.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje, said: “An iroko tree in the pen Profession has fallen and Niger State has once again lost a passionate and dedicated citizen”.
Bello described the deceased as an exceptional media mogul who demonstrated courage in his write ups, adding that he was also a successful entrepreneur and politician who will be greatly missed.
The governor prayed for God’s comfort on the All Progressives Congress (APC), people of Niger State, the Media industry, family and close associates of Nda-Isaiah.
Born in Minna on May 1, 1962, late Sam was a passionate newspaperman and pundit, his column, “Last Word” with a footnote, “Earshot”, was a must read.
He started the column as special writer and editorial board member of Daily Trust, before he founded Leadership Newspaper.
He served as a committee member in the Kano State Government to revive The Triumph Newspapers owned by the state government.
The deceased was also a pharmacist and entrepreneur with many successful businesses.
He was also a founding member of the APC and aspired for presidential ticket under the same APC for 2015 elections.
He was a the Kakakin Nupe, a traditional title in the Nupe Kingdom.
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State expressed sadness over the death of Nda-Isaiah.
Oyetola said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Saturday in Osogbo.
The governor joined family members, the Leadership family, friends, and the media industry in the country to mourn the celebrated newspaperman, publisher, politician, pharmacist and serial entrepreneur.
He hailed the late publisher’s contributions to the growth of journalism in the country, saying that his death had created a big vacuum in the media industry.
He, however, said the only way to immortalise the deceased was to ensure that the newspaper and other media outfits, he founded, continued to flourish in line with his vision.
Oyetola also recalled the roles the late deceased played in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and how he ensured that his medium maintained objective reportage of events leading to the 2015 general elections.
The governor described him as a great businessman, a progressive politician and a patriotic Nigerian, who was strongly committed to the unity and development of the country.
He said that the late publisher left his footprints on the sands of time and that his legacies would always be remembered.
The governor prayed to God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest and give his family and loved ones the strength to bear his demise.
