Triumph

Triumph, CTV: Rimi’s favorite media twins

Ado Umar Muhammad

Wednesday, April 4, 2018, marked the eighth anniversary of the death of Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, the first executive governor of old Kano state (Jigawa state inclusive). He died as a result of an attack by armed bandits close to Darki town in Takai LGA while on his way back to Kano from Bauchi state. Late Rimi is generally acknowledged as one of the two best governors of Kano state who laid the solid foundation for its development, the other being Alhaji Audu Bako. The late Commissioner of Police became the first governor of the state after the creation of 12 states by General Yakubu Gowon’s regime in 1967.

As one can hardly be able to quantify all of late Rimi’s achievements, only the main ones can be pinpointed. In his quest to bring development down to the grassroots level, Governor Rimi became the first chief executive of a state to create a ministry for rural and community development. Being one of his priority projects, the ministry accomplished monumental achievements in the areas of construction of access roads and supplies of water and electricity to several rural communities. As a consequence, thousands of rural dwellers across the state began to feel the impact of government.

Within three years of his stewardship he was able to establish a number of institutions that have remained among some of his most enduring legacies. Those that readily come to mind are Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KNARDA), Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Rural Electricity Board (REB), Science and Technical Schools Board (STSB), Kano State Primary Schools Management Board (KSPSMB), and Agency for Mass Education (AME). Others are the multi-storey building named as Ado Bayero House, Magwan Water Restaurant, Triumph Publishing Company (TPC), and City Television (CTV). As a befitting tribute to him shortly after his death in 2010 the CTV was renamed as Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV).

As a former staff of Triumph Publishing Company, I’m therefore one of the beneficiaries of his legacies. Thus, in tribute to him I wish to narrate my experiences during the 22 years I served at the TPC. I joined the company in December 1981 as a senior reporter, and rose through the ranks to become Editor-in-Chief in 1997. Before I go further, let me extol Rimi’s political sagacity and foresight for establishing the twin media houses at a time the core Northern part of the country had only two media houses, Radio Kaduna and New Nigerian to speak for them. Besides that, it afforded the opportunity for more Northerners to pursue a career in journalism.

When Rimi established TPC and CTV in 1981 they instantly became his favorite because of the importance he attached to them. TPC, for instance, was initially a limited liability company and remained so up till 1995. This means it had no affiliation with any government agency and even the state’s ministry of information. The MDs of the two media houses dealt directly with the governor and their requests were promptly approved. This was sometimes to the chagrin of other government agencies.

For that reason the TPC started in a big way. Some of the best media hands at the time were employed by Rimi as pioneer editorial and production staff for the company. The first Managing Director was Dr. Haroun Adamu, a leading journalist who wrote a popular column in the Sunday Times in the 1970s. Before his appointment he was a lecturer in Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. The first editor was late Rufa’i Ibrahim, a brilliant journalist who had worked in senior positions with the New Nigerian and Daily Times respectively. Other prominent editorial staff included late Chief Clement Nda-Isaiah, late Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, Dr. Jibrilla Muhammad (now of KSIP), Alhaji Isma’ila Muhammad (currently Emir of Karshi, FCT), Aminu Mustafa Ibrahim, Haruna Izah, Issah Aremu (of NLC), Nuhu Muhammad K/Mata, late Ujudud Shariff, Musa Ahmad Tijjani and Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye (now a Permsec).

With these competent staff the weekly published by company as from 1982, known as Sunday Triumph, being the first broadsheet English newspaper in Nigeria, took the country by storm with its radicalism and incisive investigative reports. The paper sold like hot cake even in Lagos, which is the cradle of the print media in Nigeria. The incontrovertible corruption stories it came out with every week made it one of the much-sought-after newspapers in the country. One of such reports titled “ABUJA STINKS” exposed some of the underhand dealings with regard to contracts awards for the construction of the new FCT.

However, following Rimi’s inability to secure a second term in 1983 there was an exodus of the staff he brought to TPC who decided to leave on ideological grounds. To replace them, the new governor late Alhaji Sabo Bakin-Zuwo brought in late Alhaji Sidi Ali Sirajo who made name as a broadcaster at Radio Kaduna as MD, and Ajayi Memaiyettan then state editor of The Herald in Kano as Managing Editor, and Salisu Alhassan Bichi. Bakin-Zuwo’s tenure however lasted for only three months, as the Nigerian military staged a successful coup on New Year’s Eve 1983 which ushered in the incumbent president, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, as new Head of State.

The military governor posted to Kano, Group Captain Hamza Abdullahi, appointed Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim as Sole Administrator of the three state-owned media houses; TPC, CTV and Radio Kano. After accomplishing his task a popular journalist, Alhaji Abba Muhammad Dabo, was appointed as the new MD. Dabo brought in new hands such as Kabiru Yusuf (of Daily Trust) and late Dr. Rufai Omar Madaki, both from UDU, Sokoto; Emmanuel Yawe, from NNN; late Mohammed Mousa-Booth, from information ministry; Garba Shehu, now President Buhari’s media aide; and two Ghanaians, Mr. Nii and late Mr. Okoh, who played prominent roles as indefatigable sub-editors for Daily Triumph and Sunday Triumph respectively.

In later years other ace journalists joined TPC such as Dr Nu’uman M Habib (now a professor), Mukhtari Magaji, Bello Bashir Gwarzo, Dalhatu Sani Yola, Sule Ya’u Sule, Kabiru Muhammad Gwangwazo and Ali M. Ali; all of whom, except the latter two, are now lecturing in various universities. Some female journalists also contributed considerably to Triumph’s fame in their own way. They include Mrs. Ebun, an experienced sub-editor from NNN; Aisha Umar Yusuf, now with Daily Trust; Halima Musa Kamilu, now with FCE, Kano; Aisha Shuaibu Yola; and Aishatu Haruna, now a staff of ministry of information, Kano.

With regard to the vernacular newspapers, Albishir and Alfijir (written in Ajami or Hausa in Arabic script), the following people have over the years served as editors: late Aliyu Ahmed, Isa Abba Sa’id, Adamu Aliyu Kiyawa, late Danjuma Baffa, and Aliyu Umar for Albishir. Also Isa Mohammed, late Umar Ibrahim Wudil and Malam Bature Gana have served as editors for Alfijir.

Of course, there are many other noticeable journalists who have made invaluable contributions to Triumph but who I’m unable to reel out their names here. It is to the eternal credit of late Governor Rimi that these people had the opportunity to realize their ambitions of becoming journalists in their life time. One of its former editors, Kabiru Yusuf for instance, was able to marshal others of his ilk to set up the Daily Trust, which is today one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria. Others are currently holding senior positions in various print media organizations in the country.

However, it has not been all bed of roses for Triumph Publishing Company. Even before the company began operation it had a baptism of fire – literally! Its permanent site at old Tashar Kuka in Fagge, plus the new printing machine being installed there, were doused with petrol and set on fire by political thugs. This act of brigandage which took place on July 10th, 1981 also saw the setting ablaze of several government buildings. Rimi’s political adviser Dr Bala Mohammed, an ace broadcaster and lecturer at BUK, was also murdered and his body burned by the rampaging arsonists.

Finally, some of the staff I have listed above and many others not mentioned have over the years died as indicted against their names. May Allah (SWT) forgive their sins and have them mercy on their souls. Also, may the gentle soul of Alhaji Muhammadu Rimi who made possible the existence of TPC, ARTV and all other agencies that have provided job opportunities to thousands of Kano people and other Nigerians in the past 37 years be granted Allah’s mercy and eternal peace, amin Ya Rabbi.

Muhammad, former Editor-in-Chief of Triumph Newspapers, wrote from Hotoro, Kano