President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness at the death of the Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, describing him as “a friend and ally.”
The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina early hours of yesterday, condoled with the media fraternity, the Nda-Isaiah family, friends and associates of the deceased, saying “the country has lost a man of conviction, a resolute and dogged believer in a better Nigeria.
“He will be sorely missed. This is a massive fish gone out of the media ocean,” Buhari further said of the pharmacist, renowned columnist, and one-time presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also reacting, the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, commiserated with the Nda-Isaiah family and the management of Leadership Newspapers on the passing on of the founder and chairman of the Leadership Media Group, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah who died, last Friday.
The former President, in a condolence message to the family, described the late Nda-Isaiah as an erudite journalist and columnist who deployed his creativity towards promoting peace, progress and unity.
Jonathan also noted that the late publisher was deeply committed to public good, adding that he would be missed for his patriotism and incisive commentary on the state of the nation.
The former President said: “I commiserate with the Nda-Isaiah family, the Nigerian media, his political associates and all sympathisers on the demise of Sam Nda-Isaiah at the age of 58 after a brief illness.
“Sam Nda-Isaiah was a pharmacist, an erudite journalist, a columnist and a newspaper publisher who deployed his creativity and platforms to promote the peace, progress and unity of Nigeria.
As a politician, publisher and entrepreneur, he was a man of deep commitment to solving many of the challenges within our country.
“He will be missed by many members of our society, for his incisive commentary on the state of our nation and for his patriotism.
“I pray for consolation for members of his family and all affected by his death to take solace in the fact the late journalist lived an impactful life of service and he was an inspiration to many, especially those within the media”, Jonathan added.
The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, said that the contributions of the late Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah as a public opinion shaper and principled politician were profound and have put his imprints on the Nigerian history despite his early home call.
In a statement, yesterday, Lawan condoled with the family, friends of Sam Nda-Isaiah and the Nigerian newspaper industry over the death of the publisher of Leadership Newspaper.
In the statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President also commiserated with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), and the government and people of Niger State over the loss.
Lawan described as shocking the death of the pharmacist-turned newspaper columnist, publisher and politician at the young age of 58 years.
He said, “Sam Nda-Isaiah fervently believed in the Nigerian project and this is reflected in his writings and the editorial focus and tone of his Leadership Newspaper.
“His contributions as a public opinion shaper and principled politician are profound and have put his imprints on the Nigerian history despite his early home call.”
The Senate President prayed for sweet repose of his soul and for comfort for his loved ones in this period of their grief and after.
Similarly, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) it was devastated by the shocking news of the death of the Founder and Chairman of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, who passed on at the age of 58, last Friday.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in a statement, yesterday, said the development was a monumental loss to Nigeria and the Northern region.
He said the country lost a visionary Nigerian in the person of the late businessman and media personality.