Isyaku Ibrahim
Members of Journalism Industry had just received the death of a veteran in the profession Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Saulawa with pain,utmost shock and deep heart
Although there was nothing one can do as for everyone of us is time appointed and whenever it knocks by your door you cannot waste time
That what happened to the journalist cum broadcaster of repute of the seventy’s and eighty’s Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Saulawa on Saturday 27th July 2024 at his residence in Badikko suburb in Kaduna
For those of that where in primary and secondary schools when he was a reporter with FRCN Kaduna knew how he sent report from South western Nigeria normally from states including old Oyo and Lagos states to programmes pertaining Barka da Yau and News Nationwide with passion likewise political programmes like Alkawari kaya and dandalin siyasa anchored by Halilu Ahmed Getso as well as English version of the political programe called Democracy in Action anchored by Inyaka Mindafa and Abdul Malik addy among others
One thing that will fancy listeners the most was how he pronounced the names of the politicians and public stalwarts of Yoruba extraction of Shagari’s period fluently unlike what is being obtained this time around when mispronunciation particularly of tribal names is the order of the day in broadcast industry
Definitely the demise of Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Saulawa had created a void in the pen industry at this material time that proficient journalists are highly in need in view of the rapid development being experienced in the field as a result of private ownership and total migration from analogue to digital industry
Those that relied solely on Radio Nigeria Kaduna on local and foreign contents knew how the late journalist was so focused and composed in airing his stories hence the enormous role such items played in enlightening people from this part of the country on south western Nigeria politics more importantly the squabble between ruling UPN in states like OyO involving Governor Bola Ige and his Local Government Commissioner Busari Adelakun and Deputy Governor Sunday Afolabi which later compelled the duo to pitch tent with NPN and that of Governor Adekunle Ajasin and his Deputy Governor Akin Omoboriowo in defunct Ondo state and many issues of socio economic impact relating to his area of primary assignment during the second republic like the Ife Modakeke crisis
Unarguably, one of the best brains during the time of late Dahiru Modibbo as Chief Executive of Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Saulawa observed his responsibility creditably well as listeners of the channel gained alot from his superb mode of translation and uttering of words but in Hausa and English
Obviously, the veteran journalist cum broadcaster served on several posts including Commissioner of Information in defunct Kaduna and later Katsina when it was carved out from the former,BBC London, VON and just of recent Managing Director of Nagarta Radio Delightfully, the deceased effort and seriousness in getting things done within a short period of time is unquantifiable
Certainly an icon in the media industry was no more but our prayers is for God to reward him abundantly and guard him against the darkness of the grave and rigorous questions from the angels and above all compensate him with paradise
