NEWS
Alhaji Gambo Muazu (Durbin Katagum) – Sunset At Prime
Mohammed Umar, Bauchi
When I saw calls coming to my phone from my sister and brother, Mariya Babayo and Sadeeq Babayo Mustapha all at once, and despite not picking because I was in a meeting, but kept calling back, I knew something was wrong. I immediately went outside the room and asked Sadeeq what was wrong.
My heart was already heavy. He asked whether I heard the bad news? I said what bad news?At that moment, my heart was already beating faster than usual.
He said Durbi is dead. I asked who is Durbi? He said Durbin Katagum. I said haba this is not true. He said it was true because it was his his wife who broke the news to him and she was crying. His wife is a close relative of the late Durbi. That minute we spoke was one of the worst moments of my life.I immediately felt like I had been hit with a sledge hammer on my head. Then calls started coming in confirming my fears. It was the first time in a long time that I cried like a baby. I locked my office door and spent close to 30 minutes crying on my visitors chair.
When I went down to pray Asr in the office mosque, I was performing ablution and crying profusely to the amazement of staff and several visitors who were wondering what happened to me. I cried during the prayers as well that the person praying next to me was virtually holding my hands comforting me to take it easy. The tears was the only thing making me feel better at that material time.
I immediately went to inform my boss on what happened and the need to take some days off to travel for the funeral. I was crying profusely as I spoke to her, she consoled me offering me tissue paper to wipe my tears away.
He was not only my senior brother and mentor, I was his confidant and he had confidence in my judgement and valued the respect I had for him. I came to understand the depth of his heart and he came to appreciate the depth of my loyalty to him.
Whenever I was free, I drove to his office to pay my respect to him and his close friend, Tata Shekarau Omar and we usually spent hours talking about how our societies had deteriorated and the role we could individually play to ameliorate the terrible situations of our people. His office became the secretariat for our meetings, all in an effort to play our part to the benefit of our society.
He mentored me on how to be our brothers and sisters keepers and how our late elders had placed our community on a high moral pedestal of integrity, dignity and mutual respect, and the need for us to sustain and be the keepers of such a beautiful legacy.
He retired last year from public service, but he transited to the next service of philanthropy, generosity and humanitarianism that is unprecedented of any human being that I associated with. I can confidently say this, Alhaji Muhammad Gambo Muazu (Durbin Katagum) is one of the most humble, down-to-earth and accessible personalities that I had ever had the privilege of interacting with in my life.
His infectious humility and good character, his ever smiling face and patience, his friendly disposition to his elders and subordinates, his charisma, his voice of moderation on issues are usually not attributes that are associated with people of his standing and disposition in a contemporary society like ours. No wonder people alleged for so long a time, that he was too good for this our current times and people like him don’t last long.
He played a major role in trying to see that everyone no matter the person’s background, creed or tribe was given a fair shot in life. His death jolted our community that everyone both the young and old were crying and consoling each other with everyone telling their stories of their experiences with him, and the interventions he had in their lives with a smiling face no matter how many times you came back dangling your problems to him.
He was intelligent, resourceful, well endowed in terms of material things, the ultimate Good looking fellow like the fulani aristrocat that he was, but one of the simplest individuals and the best father anyone could wish for and have.
Our community had lost a lot of our committed and revered personalities, but they mustly died at old age, due to old age related ailments. Durbi’s death was more shocking and devastating because of the circumstances it happened (Fatal car accident) and the fact that he was relatively young and was not known to be suffering from any illness.
He was seen in good spirits at a wedding in the Emirs Palace less than two weeks before his death. His death is excruciatingly painful because people like him come once in a generation. He was the full package whose childhood friends attested that they couldn’t remember the last time they saw him angry no matter the level of provocation.
His funeral attracted thousands of people from far and near, with people crying profusely over his loss, confused and wondering when they would ever see someone with such attributes and exceptional qualities from the community again. You can only try your best to enumerate his contributions to the well-being of the people, but it is impossible to cover or list his crucial and critical interventions in one single material.
The people you fed without knowing who they were, will be the witnesses of your goodwill in this world in shaa Allah.
The people you sheltered and provided decent accommodation for, so that they live with dignity and pride, will attest to your benevolence spirit on the day of judgment in shaa Allah.
The widows and vulnerable children that you bought clothes for to enable them celebrate during the Sallah celebrations, will bear witnesses to your intervention at their distressing moments on the day you will need it most in shaa Allah.
The hundreds of sick people that could not afford to pay their medical bills but you paid for them, will be there for you on the day when only your good deeds is relevant in shaa Allah.
The testimonies of people at your graveside with people of all backgrounds supplicating to God to have mercy on you because of the positive impact you made in their lives, had been recorded in your good deeds in shaa Allah.
My condolences to the Emir of Katagum, his family, people of Katagum, Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole for this incalculable, immeasurable and irreparable loss.
May Allah The Giver And The Exterminator of life grant Gambo Muazu, Durbin Katagum, eternal peace accorded the best of God’s servants and give us the fortitude, though painful, to bear his permanent absence in this world, until the time when our contract with this ephemeral and transient world has come to an end and we join him In shaa Allah! Ameen!!!
Alh.Bello Mustapha
(Kogunan Katagum)
NEWS
FCTA Moves to Curb Medical Tourism
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to provide the necessary support for the successful completion and operation of the African Medical Center of Excellence, with a view to reversing medical tourism.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, made this pledge during a site tour of the state of the art facility, of African Medical Centre for Excellence, billed to be operational in early 2025.
Mahmoud noted that the partnership between the African Export-Import Bank and Kings College Hospital London to establish the 170-bed hospital was a testament to the commitment to advancing clinical care, training, and research in specialty areas such as oncology, cardiovascular services, hematology, diagnostics, and general medical services.
The minister further added; “The potential impact of this initiative in reversing medical tourism and reducing healthcare worker migration is commendable.
“I am encouraged by the prospect of over 1000 workers being employed to support the hospital’s operations.
“Therefore, I am fully committed to ensuring that the Federal Capital Territory Administration provides the necessary support for the successful establishment and operation of the African Medical Center of Excellence.
“We are happy to see, that the 6.5 hectares of land, which was donated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the host country agreement, has been developed to accomodate this hospital.”
While conducting the minister round the project, the Chief Executive Officer, African Medical Center of Excellence, Mr. Brian Deaver, commended the FCT Administration for the strategic partnership.
He used the occasion to inform the minister that the management staff of the medical centre are looking forward to further contributions of the Administration to improvement in the management of non communicable diseases in the territory.
Deaver stressed that the potential benefits of the location of this hospital in Abuja is significant, just as he expressed confidence that the partnership would yield positive outcomes for the healthcare sector in the region.
NEWS
Ortom, Ode, Asemakaha Felicitates With Alia on 58th Birthday
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, the incumbent Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr Raymond Asemakaha, Wednesday, extended their felicitations to the State Governor, Rev Fr.
The former governor in a statement signed by his Media Aide,Terver Akase and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, prayed God to grant Governor Alia the wisdom and health to steer the affairs of the state.
He maintained that God would grant Alia the enablement to surmount all challenges fronting his administration and wished him a memorable birthday celebration and many more years ahead.
The statement read in part: “Your Excellency, as you celebrate, I pray that God grants you wisdom, good health and strength to enable you to continue to steer the affairs of our dear state.
“Leadership comes with its numerous challenges, but I have no doubt that with God’s grace and guidance, all problems are surmountable.”
Similarly, the Deputy Governor of the State, Barr. Sam Odeh, on behalf of the State Executive Council (SEC), prayed that Governor Alia’s birthday would be a celebration of his uncommon passion for speedy transformation of the state.
“On behalf of the Benue State Executive Council, I write to warmly felicitate with Your Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State on the occasion of your 58th birthday anniversary.
“As you mark your years of existence on earth today, we heartily join your family, the good people of Benue State and the entire nation in wishing Your Excellency a very happy birthday.
“May your 58th birthday be a celebration of your positive energy and uncommon passion for speedy transformation of Benue State. As Governor of our dear state, you have, in the last one year, demonstrated pragmatic leadership with selflessness and dedication, by rendering quality service to the good people of Benue.
“Your ability to turn challenges into opportunities is truly admirable. We have every reason to celebrate you today, because your transformation drive has brought the state to national and global prominence with many laudable initiatives and partnerships that are now yielding positive results in various sectors of Benue economy.
“Happy Birthday! Your Excellency, you are truly a special gift to the state and a beacon of inspiration for us all. May your birthday mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with even greater successes and fulfillment.
“We pray that the Almighty God will continue to uphold, keep and strengthen you for His glory and to the benefit of humanity. Congratulations and happy birthday!, Ode stated”.
On his part, the MD/CEO, BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, on behalf of the management and staff of the company, said the governor had so far demonstrated visionary leadership, tireless efforts, and unwavering commitment to the transformation of Benue State.
Governor Alia’s exemplary governance and dedication to the welfare of the people are truly inspiring, stressing that this milestone birthday marks the beginning of another remarkable year filled with wisdom, good health, and unparalleled success.
NEWS
CBN Unveils Strategy to Boost Remittances
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has activated plans to double foreign-currency remittance flows through formal channels by granting 14 new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) Approval-in-Principle (AIP).
This was disclosed in Abuja on Wednesday, by the Bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs.
She said, “This will spur liquidity in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), augmenting price discovery to enable a market-driven fair value for the naira.
“It will be recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, had recently declared: “We’ve set ourselves a target to double remittance flows into Nigeria within a year, a goal I firmly believe is within reach.
“We are wasting no time driving progress to remove any bottlenecks hindering flows through formal channels permanently. We have a determined pathway and a sequenced approach to tackling all challenges ahead, working hand in hand with key stakeholders in the remittance industry,” she stated.
Continuing, Sidi Ali, said that the CBN viewed increasing formal remittance flows—one of the major sources of foreign exchange, accounting for over 6% of GDP—as a means of reducing the historical volatility in Nigeria’s exchange rate caused by external factors, such as fluctuations in foreign investment and oil export proceeds.
The increase in the number of IMTOs is one of the primary actions initiated by the CBN’s remittance task force, overseen by Governor Cardoso as a collaborative unit pulling together specialists to work closely with the private sector and market operators to facilitate the ease of doing business in the remittance ecosystem in Nigeria.
The task force was established as a direct result of an executive learning session with IMTOs during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings held in Washington DC, United States of America, in April 2024. The task force will meet regularly to implement strategy and monitor the impact of its measures on remittance inflows.