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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.
The Kano state Government under the able leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced it decision to revisit the abandoned trailer park projects in Kano south zonal.
The decision was announced by Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf through his spokesperson Sanusi Bature after an unscheduled to the Dakatsalle site of one of the abandoned projects.
According to the statement, these trailer park projects were initiated by the Rabiu Kwankwaso administration in 2014 at Dakatsalle, Gundutse and Dawanau but they were abandoned the immediate past administration of Ganduje.
The Governor who lamented the rampant blockage of road by heavy duty vehicles creation unneccesary hardship to road users within the metropolis, said the decision to revive the projects particularly at Gundutse and Dakatsalle in Kano South.
“It was unpatrotic for the immediate past administration to have vandalised the third location of these projects in Dawanau, which was expected to serve Kano north but the project site has allocated plots to members of thier families and cronies.” Gov. Yusuf lamented
The Governor further stated that the reasons for resustsiting were for maintaining of safety, ease vehicular movement and economic development.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa added that the Governor has directed all relevant agencies to ensure strict compliance of road traffic and ensure that no major road is blocked by any gathering including Friday mosques within and outside the Kano city.
Similarly, the Governor has revocked all lands allocated within the two trailer parks in Kano south (Gundutse and Dakatsalle) as part of the plan to revisit the projects.
It could be recalled that the projects were handed over to National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO) to operate after completions
Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa
Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
The Executive Governor of Kano State His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf has flagged off the second phase of women empowerment on livestock entrepreneurship.
A statement from the office of the Governor’s Spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa revealed that the women beneficiaries were given three small ruminants (goats) across the 44 Local Government areas of the state.
The iniative was championed under the State’s Livestock Fattining Programme of Kano Agro-Pastoral Development (KSADP).
While flagging off the second phase of programme, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said as part of his administration’s commitment to fighting abject poverty, it has been resolved to coordinate a multi-dimensional approach to supporting the plight of women and youth for self-reliance.
He said under this iniative, the state is distributing seven thousand one hundred and fifty eight (7, 158) goats to two thousand three hundred and eighty six women beneficisries.
The Governor further stated that the programme will include the distribution of one thousand three hundred and forty two (1, 342) cows to women and youth and also one thousand eight hundred and twenty two rams.
While distributing the empowerment, the Governor issued a stern warning on diversion of the animals other than the purpose it was meant for.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano has inaugurated a 7.3 kilometer rural road equipped with solar-powered streetlights valued at over N4 billion in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the project which was launched Sunday, was originally initiated by Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration in 2012 but was Abandoned by the immediate past governor in state.
Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Yusuf expressed joy at fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
“Today, we witness the realisation of a commitment made to the people of Dawakin Kudu,” he said.
Dawakinkudu road
“I am delighted to commission this project, which will significantly enhance the socio-economic well-being of the community.”
The road project was revalidated last year under an agreement with H&M Nigeria Limited, the contractor, to complete and deliver it within the first quarter of 2025.
Sani Ahmad Mairago, Chairman of Dawakin Kudu Local Government, commended the governor for prioritizing and completing the project, describing it as a vital development for the local community.
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