Musa Isa: 15 years after

Great men live and leave, but their deeds and footprint remain forever. They enter the stage, gracefully dazzling the spectators and moving the audience; and exit amid rowdy cheers and outburst. Similarly, the ‘great’ are not only their own pride, they are societal in the gross motivation and rare inspiration they constitute for potential stars within the wider superstructure.

This is why, at the climatic launch of the historic book, “Hard Etches of a man”, written on the deceased, the first elected governor of Abia state, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, lamented the moral collapse of the Nigeria system. He said, “our heroes should be remembered and honored, so that Nigeria may be encouraged to embrace the timeless value that they have exhibited”.

In fact, great men live through a savory present and leave in their wake a memorable past which makes cases for sporadic turn back necessary and palatable.

The eventful life of late Musa Isa is full of tales of humility, care, self-less compassion and philanthropy.

From the accounts of his bereaved spouse, Nafisa, through his elder sister, Hajiya Fatima M. Hassan to his biological brothers: Musa was a generous, loyal and objective person whose understanding character added every value to his open kindness. Professionally, Musa’s  contribution were  attested to by those who worked above and under him. 

Barrister Nuhu Yusuf mni, then Executive Director of FRCN, Kaduna recalls nostalgically his zealous determination to ensure success of every mission in his front and his commitment to deliver every program, with all he could, to its logical conclusion. 

Musa’s touch of excellence and creditable performance did not stop at fast and effective service delivery; even at the corporation’s headquarters in Kaduna. His meticulous attention to work bagged him several perks where during his transfers to other states, he made indelible marks that garnered larger audience for the station and acquainted him with many business and professional associates.

“…When he was leaving Owerri, most of the NUJ colleagues were really sad’’….’’And even though it was not a state in the North, he impressed upon them so much that the government and the people of Owerri became aware of the existence of Radio Kaduna. So they were not happy when he was recalled from Owerri.

“After returning from Owerri, we took him to Yobe State,and Musa made his mark there .He was known all over. He (had) brought Yobe to limelight. When he was recalled (back), the governor came to solicit for his retention. But it is our policy that all correspondents must go round. The governor was vividly unhappy to hear that Musa  wasn’t going to be posted back to Yobe… This is just to show how easy it was for him to mix freely. As such he got on well with people. I could send him to work anywhere…His colleagues realizing his potentials, (they) unanimously selected him as the chairman of the NUJ to steward the affairs of the organization and he made a mark, he explored and succeeded. He injected responsible journalism…”as quote the authors of his memoir Ibrahim Isa and Jeb-Toa Hassan.

The NUJ in particular will remember him forever for he introduced, among others, symposia, workshop, car and handset loan to members in strict furtherance of professional quality.

In the same breath ,Mr. Allen Agbor, Assistant Director,  News and Current Affairs recounts his good days with the late icon whom he describes as “diligent ,cool, easy going personality” and “a motivator”.

“And as someone who had served under me, I never found Musa Isa wanting in the discharge of his duties. He never failed to carry out the jobs assigned him and he made sure he carried it to the latter with great enthusiasm. He was very diligent. Some characters work not because they like to, but because they have to do it. Musa worked  because he loved the job.

One thing that Musa did for which he would be best remembered by me and other colleagues in the journalism profession was the hosting of the NUJ week in Kaduna, which was in fact the biggest event ever to be hosted by the union in the history. As chairman of the chapter state, he organized the most successful press week in the history of the state.

Moreover, while serving as the chairman of the FRCN chapter of the NUJ he recorded landmark achievements. It was during his tenure that the chapel evolved a rolling program that was aimed at assisting members of the union economically and socially. Similarly, may the soul of Dan masanin Kano Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, rest in peace and may the Almighty Allah grant the nation the fortitude to bear his loss. You hear similar encomium from Malam Buhari Auwal and all others who worked alongside late Musa.

Musa was born in 1958 in Kaduna  and bagged a Diploma in law from ABU, Zaria (1982) after which he joined the Federal Radio Corporation which enabled him to undertake many professional courses, locally and abroad. The Yobe State NUJ council posthumously awarded him “MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE PEN” in December, 2012.

We hear of his ability and natural obedience from childhood days in the words of his aged mother, Hajiya Hadiza Isa who had series of strange talks with Musa on the fateful Friday (5TH July, 2002) hours before his last journey on earth:” he was generous, respectful, compassionate.  These were the virtues that he grew up with. Moreover, he also heeded to instructions and never violate the code of conduct in the house. He was very respectful”.

May your gentle soul rest in peace.

Written by Ibrahim Isa Abubakar (08036423166).