National Honour: Slain Journalist Bagauda Kaltho Vindicated, Says Widow

The widow of the late investigative journalist, Bagauda Kaltho, has thanked President Bola Tinubu for the posthumous national honour conferred on him.

She described it as a powerful vindication of his legacy and a final blow to those who peddled falsehoods about his disappearance and death.

Recall that the President had on Thursday conferred a posthumous Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award on the slain journalist.

Bagauda Kaltho, a journalist known for his fearless reporting during the military era, disappeared sometime between late 1996 and early 1997 while pursuing a sensitive investigation.

For years, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance were the subject of controversy, conspiracy theories, and conflicting reports.

In a statement on Thursday, the widow, Martha Kaltho, hailed President Tinubu’s gesture, noting that it not only restores dignity to the journalist’s memory but also silences decades of negative speculations that had trailed his fate.

According to her, the vindication of her late husband, which comes with the honour, gives her great joy.

“As the wife of the late journalist, Bagauda Kaltho, my family and I wish to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for the posthumous national honour conferred on him.

“Though he paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, today’s gesture by the Nigerian government restores a measure of justice to his memory and reminds us all of the enduring value of courageous journalism.

“Also, with this honour, all lingering negative speculations surrounding his death have been effectively laid to rest, and those who once peddled falsehoods have been silenced.

“For me, this is the greatest source of joy, knowing that truth has finally prevailed and his legacy has been vindicated,” she said.

Mrs. Kaltho recalled Tinubu’s longstanding acknowledgement of her husband’s contributions to journalism, referencing the 1999 renaming of the Lagos State Press Centre to the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre during his tenure as governor.

“My family recall the renaming of the Lagos State Press Centre in 1999 to ‘Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre’ by the president when he was governor of Lagos state. These actions will remain engraved in our hearts.

“My husband disappeared sometime between late 1996 and early 1997 in line of duty. This national honour is not only a validation of my husband’s unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and the defence of democratic ideals, but also a powerful reminder that the sacrifices of those who speak truth to power are never forgotten,” she said.

She also thanked all those who supported the family during the years of uncertainty and grief.

“I thank all those too numerous to mention who have stood by us through the trying periods till now,” she added.

She noted that the honour should serve as inspiration for young journalists to uphold the values her husband lived and died for.

“May this honour inspire a new generation of journalists to remain fearless in their pursuit of truth, even in the face of adversity,” Mrs Kaltho stated.