Abba Dukawa
This piece is to celebrate veteran journalists and immediate past Kano state information commissioner Malam Muhammad Garba’s appointment as a Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Even though, the appointee requires no introduction to the media circles and country at large. His appointment was applauded and regarded as that of a round peg in a round hole.
It is apparent that Comrade Muhammad Garba had delivered above expectations and he is identified as a dedicated public servant that one would admire for his patriotism and has indeed made his mark in good books of the history of Kano state and the country. His rise to the peak of his profession has not been as easy as it may look, but his resilience and dedication.
The new chief of staff is a veteran journalist begins journalism career in 1989 with Triumph Publishing Company Limited, Kano as a reporter and served in various states of the federation as a correspondent. He later grew in his career to serve as Sub-Editor, Chief Sub-Editor, Group News Editor, and Deputy Editor.
Comrade Muhammad Garba was also the former state chairman Deputy President and President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA), President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), and was elected member of the Steering Committee of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Dublin, Ireland.
Comrade Garba served as a member of the Editorial Board of many National Newspapers. A Federal Commissioner at Fiscal Responsibility Commission from 2011 to 2014, Member and Convener Federal Government Subsidy and Reinvestment and Empowerment Committee (SURE-P) between 2012 to 2015.
The appointee held various responsibilities that include Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1993 and subsequently Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Umar Ganduje between 1999 and 2003 He served in Ganduje’s administration as commissioner of Information and Home Affairs for eight years.
At this point let me make a testimony about Comrade Muhammad Garba being my mentee and guiding me greatly to learn art and practice journalism being one of his sub-editor while he was a deputy editor in the then Daily Triumph.
One thing even his critics can’t take away from him he harbors no ill feelings or animosity against anybody. comrade sees no one as enemies, treats all nicely, a disposition that has made him the toast of every Media practitioner and others across the country commands a lot of respect within and outside of the state.
Comrade Garba’s apportionment is a testimony that indicated the chairman of the governing ruling party values the competence, expertise, and experience of Comrade Garba as a gatekeeper in the party headquarters and will run office with impeccable records. Wishing him more sound health and wisdom for him to deliver on the mission for a greater Kano state
Dukawa writes in from Abuja
