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Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada hinted about his death a week earlier – Driver
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada, veteran journalist and media administrator who died on June 30, 2019 had a premonition of death a week before he died, according to his driver.
In this exclusive interview with Kano Focus marking the anniversary of the late journalist’s death, Ado Gama aka Ado Gauta said Mr Tudun Wada started bidding farewell to this world a week before his death.
“He looked at his children who followed him outside to bid him farewell as he set out for his last journey and said to me ‘Ado I pity these children.’ I was stunned and asked what he meant.”
“He said ‘I will not live long with them, and I wonder how their lives would be after my demise’.”
“A day after, while I was driving him he told me ‘Ado I think I’m going to die’
“I was taken aback and offered to proceed to hospital if he was feeling ill but he just muttered that it was okay.” Mr Gama recalled.
Most shocking
Ado Gama said what shocked him the most were the words the late UST – as he was popularly known – spoke to his new born baby four days to his death.
“It was on Wednesday four days to his death that I drove him to Abububakar Rimi Television where he had a program.” He said.
Mr Gama said while UST was in the studio his wife called to inform him that she was going to hospital as she was due to deliver.
He said after the program, he drove the late UST to the hospital where they found that the wife had already delivered a baby boy through Caesarian section.
Mr Tudun Wada, according to his driver took the baby in his hands and spoke to it.
“He said ‘boy, you come to the world in a situation where I will not see you grow, and you will not receive my personal upbringing’.”
“We all glared at him in shock” Mr Gama said.
According to the driver, the late UST’s wife protested his assertion but he just left the hospital in silence.
How he died
The late media administrator left for Abuja the next day and returned to Kaduna by rail four days later.
“I drove to Kaduna with his car and picked him up together with his wife and daughter.
“We stopped at Zaria, prayed Zuhr, and took some lunch before heading to Kano.
“He fell asleep before we reached Kura.” Mr Gama said.
He said the crash that killed Mr Tudun Wada occurred at Kura town some few kilometers to Kano metropolis.
“As I was driving, I saw a motorcyclist coming head on and I tried the break but was unable to stop the car.
“I therefore swerved and hit the demarcation dividing the dual carriage road but the car tumbled twice and landed on the other side of the road.” Mr Gama said.
The driver added that he came out safely and onlookers helped him to bring out his passengers who were wounded.
“When Umar was brought out I thought he was sleeping but after we were rushed to hospital he was pronounced dead and I fainted instantly,” said Mr Gama.
His kindness
Ado Gauta said he was Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada’s driver for over 18 years.
“I knew Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada better than many people, he became like a university to me.
“He treated his children like friends and taught them to respect people who are poorer than them.
He said domestic workers were free to scold late UST’s children if they found them misbehaving.
Brief profile
Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada was the deputy president Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
He worked with the Nigerian television Authority NTA and Kano state-owned CTV 67 before moving to the Hausa service of Deutsche Welle (DW).
He also worked with the Voice of America (Hausa Service), Freedom FM Kano, Radio Kano, and Dandalkura in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He served as media aide to Kano state governors Rabi’u Kwankwaso, and Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as Ibrahim Shekarau while he was a gubernatorial candidate.
Mallam Umar Saidu was the immediate past Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation and also one time Editor, Concern Magazine.
He also served as Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano State Council.
He was also very active in online forums such as Ra’ayi Initiative and Dandalin Siyasa.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has issued a blistering response to recent accusations made by Baffa Bichi, the former Secretary to the State Government, describing the claims as baseless fabrications intended to mislead the public and tarnish reputations.
This was contained in a stark issued by governor’s spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin on Sunday.
Governor Yusuf dismissed all the allegations made by Bichi via social media, branding him “a shameless liar” whose utterances are unworthy of serious attention.
“The claims are not only false but also laughable. Baffa Bichi is a big liar, and everything he said is a total fallacy,” Yusuf declared.
Particularly, the Governor vehemently refuted the assertion that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, is receiving N2 billion monthly from the Kano State Government.
Governor Yusuf described the allegation as “the height of political desperation and dishonesty.”
“Senator Kwankwaso is one of the purest and most selfless individuals in Kano. He has never demanded a penny from this administration, nor has he interfered with the government’s finances,” the Governor asserted.
He also criticized Baffa Bichi’s timing and motive, noting that he served in the government for several months without making such claims—until after his dismissal due to incapacitation, poor performance and administrative negligence.
“You were in this government for more than a year l, If you had any integrity, you would have spoken out while still in office. But you chose silence until you were sent parking. That exposes your real motive,” Yusuf added.
The Governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transparency and good governance, urging the people of Kano to disregard what he called “the noise of bitter politicians who have lost relevance.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) campaign on Polio vaccine has recorded a positive response in Hotoro North, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that this a result of a renewed collaboration between the Kano State Government, the UNICEF and key community stakeholders with officials reporting a sharp decline in cases of parental resistance.
The campaign comes on the heels of a disturbing resurgence of circulating variant polioviruses in three local government areas, Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa, where three new cases were detected earlier in 2025. These incidents underscored lingering gaps in immunization coverage, largely due to misinformation and resistance from a fraction of parents who previously declined to vaccinate their children.
However, a recent visit by journalists to Hotoro North revealed a striking turnaround in public response. Field reports indicate that growing awareness efforts, powered by religious and traditional institutions, are yielding impressive results on the ground.
Alhassan Iliyasu, Chairman of the Ward Development Committee (WDC) and a member of the local polio taskforce, confirmed that community resistance has significantly dropped.
He recounted that on the third day of the campaign, health teams encountered only four resistant households. After intervention by community leaders, three of the families willingly presented their children for vaccination.
He said “We’re seeing real change.Thanks to continued sensitization and involvement of respected community figures, more parents are seeing the importance of immunization and allowing their children to be vaccinated.”
Umar Ahmad, the Wakilin Hotoro North and representative of the village head, also praised the collective effort. According to him, awareness campaigns are now embedded in local religious and social structures.
“We make announcements in mosques, engage community leaders, and partner with Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs). When there’s a case of non-compliance, we intervene immediately—and by the grace of God, people are now cooperating,” he said.
The campaign’s success has been further echoed by Hauwa Ibrahim, the Assistant Ward Vocal Person, who described the ongoing immunization round as the most positively received in recent years.
“It’s encouraging to see parents themselves approach us to ask why their children haven’t been vaccinated yet. There’s a new wave of awareness, and while a few still hesitate, most become receptive after sensitization,” she explained.
Stakeholders have applauded the multi-tiered approach that combines medical outreach with traditional authority and faith-based messaging. Marked houses and updated immunization records in Hotoro North now serve as tangible proof of progress in a region once burdened by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
With Kano State intensifying efforts to achieve a polio-free status, Hotoro North now stands as a shining example of what community-driven health campaigns can achieve—highlighting the power of partnership, education, and persistence in defeating one of the world’s most preventable diseases.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Government has signed a contract with TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited for the completion of Kankare to Karaye road, linking the villages of Tofa, Rimin Gado, Kabo, and Karaye Local Government Areas.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi on Wednesday signed the contract on behalf of Kano state government.
Barrister Dederi recalled that the project was initially budgeted at N3 billion 15 years ago and had undergone five reviews by previous administrations.
The Attorney General noted that the present administration under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is committed to completing the project within a specified period.
He said “the signing of the contract is a significant testament to improving our state infrastructure, The project will not only enhance transportation but also Boost economic growth and the quality of life for our citizens.
“We are confident that with the expertise of TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited, we will complete this project within the stipulated timeframe.”
In his remarks the Commissioner of Works, Engineer Marwan Ahmad said the project was first awarded in 2010 by the Administration of Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and this is the sixth time the contract has been reviewed.
He noted that the project is in phases, with 7 bridges already completed, and the government has given the contractors an 8-month deadline to complete the second segment.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the member representing Tofa and Rimin Gado State Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker reiterated that the State House of Assembly would exercise its constitutional oversight function to ensure the timely completion of the project and adherence to the agreed terms.
On his part, Engr. Lee Wu, Managing Director of TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited, expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government under Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for recognizing their company’s capabilities.
He pledged to work diligently to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe and solicited the support of traditional leaders and community members for the project’s success.
Also commenting Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu, District Head of Karaye and Turakin Karaye, speaking on behalf of the District Heads of the four Local Government Areas, who grace the occasion expressed gratitude to Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for embarking on this laudable project. He noted that the construction of this vital road will undoubtedly revive economic growth in the area.
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