The State House Press Corps has held tributes as they mourn the passing of veteran journalist Kabir Yusuf, who covered the State House for many years until his death on Tuesday.
His death has left a void in the State House Press Corps, as they mourn the loss of a dedicated and respected journalist who covered the seat of power for many years.
Yusuf, who was the Federal Capital Territory correspondent for The Triumph Newspaper and Radio France Internationale Hausa, was described by his colleagues as “friendly, God-fearing, hardworking, fatherly, and professional to the core.”
The chairman of Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, were among dignitaries that signed the condolence register opened in memory of the veteran journalist, who has since been buried according to Muslim rites.
Idris described his death as shocking, noting that he has contributed so much to the media industry.
“You will agree with me that Mallam Kabiru Yusuf’s disposition and professionalism endeared him to so many.
“He is so simple and unassuming, always sitting here on the front row without talking much but each time he had cause to say something, he said it with diligence and in a way that does not hurt anyone”.
The minister who prayed God to rest his soul, said his death was a constant reminder to all of the temporariness of life. “Now one of us is gone we don’t know who is next and death is surely something that all of taste, but I do hope that we will enjoy and have best relationships for as long as this life ends and we also pray that God will give us His blessings when our own time comes.”
He sympathised with the press corps saying, “I know that it is a sad moment for you but don’t lose your focus. We that remain will continue to fight what Kabiru Yusuf fought for, trying to see that we have a great country we will all be proud of.”
Nkwocha, while paying tribute to Yusuf, fondly referred to as “Kabiru Sokoto”, described him as hardworking and said his death should unite the press corps.
The chairman of the State House Press Corps, Emmanuel Anule of AFP, went down memory lane, recalling how the late Yusuf helped him when he was first posted to the Presidential Villa.
He regretted that the late Yusuf who had written his memoir did not live long enough to publish it.
“May God help us to clear our tables because someday it will be our turn to go”, Festus Fifen of Ben Television admonished colleagues.
President Bola Tinubu had extended his condolences to Yusuf’s family, praying for the repose of his soul and offering comfort to his loved ones in this time of grief.
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