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My binoculars : How sudden death stole my friend at the twilight of his service to humanity
My binoculars : How sudden death stole my friend at the twilight of his service to humanity
By: Sam Kayode
Of a truth, i have peeped and recorded a lot through my curious binoculars for over a decade now. But very few of the images I see have been as solemn as when I am reminiscing about buddies I met along life’s path of destiny fulfilment. This one of David Ibukun is unique because we grew up partially together as teenagers in the 80’s and he knew my parents in the secondary school house where my late father held sway as the Vice Principal. I observed, he had a special reverence for my father and was one of those students who the old man was well pleased with because of his stable nature.
David’s sudden death last year reminded us his classmates of the Muslim Progressive High School (MPHS) Oke Odan of the enormous power of God Almighty over all of us. This is because death according to the Bible is a transitional phenomenon all mortals must taste to enjoy or regret eternity based on our deeds after His final judgement.
It is always painful when someone you knew or sat in the same class with leaves you without saying goodbye. And why it hurts so much was that we rediscovered each other in 2023 after about 40 years of not crossing paths since leaving secondary school in the 80’s.
And that did happen in jos when he was driving to somewhere and I had parked to buy somethings to assist my trip back to Maiduguri. Incidentally, he worked in jos for about six years for Total Nigeria PLC without us crossing paths because I was on and off from the cold city. On this particular day, he was driving off to round up some of his transfer details and he spotted me on the long dual carriage way that runs from mararaba jama to terminus area in jos. He was the first to see me and stopped along the road at ‘building materials’ where I was buying fresh veggies. From behind I had Sammy. Only for me to turn to see David. I was so happy to see him after a long time. We exchanged pleasantries and spent sometimes catching up with each other. He hinted that he had been transferred to Lagos island and I told him I will check on him anytime I find myself down that path.
The David I knew at the Muslim Progressive High School Oke Odan
Dave was a confidant with whom we had a good chemistry. I will never forget his consistent smiles even when classmates annoyed him. He was a calm lanky fellow like myself who could never be provoked into extreme tendencies common with the teenage generation of that era. A very dependable, unassuming and approachable fellow who was very considerate since I joined the class in form 4 from a foreign school. In our secondary school days, he was a good student of economics and was studious in all his ways in spite of the air of affluence he enjoyed with a big brother who made sure he never lacked anything. His senior brother, a custom official who took care of him like his son was a good friend of my father who was the Vice Principal of the school then. He would always branch when passing on official duties since the school was along the trunk A road coming from Sango Ota. Whenever he was passing by he would branch to see David and we often shared in the goodies he used to bring for his kid brother after seeing “Baba” as they used to call my father.
We kept faith with each other even after form five as he described his brother’s home for me around iyana ipaja area where I used to branch while visiting my uncles in Lagos. We actually lost touch after I completed my training as a journalist and got my first job with the daily times news paper with posting to Taraba state in November 1992. He too got a career with total Nigeria PLC after his professional training. Life went on in our separate worlds as expected only for us to meet on that fateful day in jos where we both had worked without knowing he was there. Dave carried the same smiles I used to know him for only to sign off suddenly into eternity last year 2024.
Fellow progressives, its been about 40 years we left secondary school and quite painful to loose “Baskay” at the twilight of our respective callings. He was still the Baskay I knew and I was the “omo Baba” with whom we had a special bond with. Being class mates at the MPHS in a community called Oke odan in Ogun State was a unique opportunity to meet as young gentlemen and I will never forget those days. Oke odan then in the 80’s was a tiny linear settlement on the way to the border town of idi iroko which was a major gateway to Nigeria. And MPHS founded by the community and taken over by government was a breeding ground for future leaders and great sportsmen in the then Egbado division of Ogun state. It became a strategic point for young minds to be reprocessed into productive humanists to contribute to our country. Sadly, like his senior brother, Dave died suddenly last year on Tuesday 12th of November after a protracted illness in a Lagos hospital.He was a humanist to the core and a peaceful and practicing disciple of Christ who showed love to all till the end.
Final rites of David
His service of Songs was held at – KT&T Hall, Plot 61, Scheme 1, Warewa Bus Stop, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on the 16th January 2025. And this was followed by the funeral service the next day at the RCCG Gate of Heaven Parish, Redemption City of God. He was
Interred at the Memorial Gardens, within Redemption Camp.
Do have a nice rest Ogbeni David Ibukun and extend our regards to Tajudeen Shittu (Tilly) who was also one of us. But had since gone before you after a tragic car crash along the Abeokuta Sango Ota road of Ogun State.
My binoculars : How sudden death stole my friend at the twilight of his service to humanity
Yobe civil service faces challenges of Boko Haram in 15 years—HoS
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State civil service has faced unprecedented challenges for over fifteen years as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
This was disclosed by the Yobe State Head of Service, Alhaji Tonga Betara, during the opening of a 5-day workshop commenced by the Multi-sectoral Crisis Recovery Project for North-East Nigeria (MCRP).
The workshop, being held in Kano, brought together over 150 top-ranking civil servants, including directors of personnel management, heads of departments, and other key officials from various MDAs in the state, aimed at strengthening public service for post-crisis recovery.
Alhaji Betara highlighted the devastating impact of the over 15-year insurgency on the civil service and noted that it has affected the performance of civil servants and the experienced public servants are also retiring from service.
“In response to this situation, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, had earlier given approval for various capacity-building training for civil servants in the state.” Tonga said.
He commended the efforts of MCRP for collaborating with the office of the head of service in organizing several capacity-building workshops to complement government efforts on manpower needs of the state.
In his welcome address, Yobe State Project Coordinator MCRP, Alhaji Musa Idi Jidawa, expressed gratitude toGovernor Mai Mala Buni, CON, for his unwavering support and encouragement towards the implementation of the training workshops.
According to him, the civil service faced unprecedented challenges as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency; hence, the workshop is aimed at building capacity to design and implement effective strategies that will enable the civil service in the state to drive recovery efforts.
The workshop is designed to equip participants with necessary skills and knowledge, provide a platform for participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and develop effective strategies for post-crisis recovery in Yobe State.
Yobe civil service faces challenges of Boko Haram in 15 years—HoS
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Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate
Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate
By: Michael Mike
The bill outlawing infanticide in the country would soon be sponsored on the floor of the Senate, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory has promised.
The lawmaker made this promise at the weekend in Abuja during a visit to Vines Heritage Home (VHH), a home that host scores of children who were saved from infanticide from community within and around the Federal Capital Territory.
The children were declared not worthy of living for being born as twins and were to be killed before being rescued by the Home and taken care of.
Speaking after having interaction with children of the Home, including the proprietor, Olusola Stevens, Senator Kingibe said it was absurd for children to be blamed for the misfortune of their parents or be killed for coming as double blessings.
She said she will be presenting a bill to the Senate to end this scourge and called on the members of the public to come out and speak against infanticide and help the children of the Home.
Speaking earlier, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Mamedu who led Senator Kingibe to the Home, said the organisation was happy to welcome the Senator to the Home, where children rescued from harmful traditional practice of infanticide within the FCT currently reside.
Mamedu, who was represented by the Deputy Country Director of AAN, Hajia Suwaiba Dankabo, said: “Through the co-funding by European Union (EU) and AAN, a three-year project designed to raise awareness and mobilize action towards the abolition of infanticide in the FCT, these children were relocated here. The project established mechanisms to safeguard unborn babies and infants susceptible to being victims of infanticide, as well as those that are currently ostracized.”
He noted that: “A core component of our work involves amplifying the voices of children- particularly girls- to ensure their meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives. With the support of the European Union, we have implemented child protection programme in 57 communities across five Area Councils of the FCT, focusing on the eradication of harmful traditional practices such as infanticide.”
He added that: “We are deeply grateful for the generous funding support provided by Sony Entertainment through ActionAid Sweden. As a globally recognized organisation, Sony Entertainment understands the crucial role of investing in education and securing a brighter future for children. This invaluable support will significantly impact the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society, particularly the 74 girls from Vines Heritage Home (VHH) and the 219 children under our care.”
End
Senator Kingibe: Bill Outlawing Infanticide would be Presenting on the Floor of the Senate
Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Katsina State foiled a banditry attack on May 8, 2025, and successfully rescued two kidnapped victims in Matazu Local Government Area. The attack took place around 1400hrs when armed men, suspected to be bandits, targeted farmers working in the Ilali village area.
The bandits abducted two individuals, Sada Maraya, 45, and Basiru Magaji, 47, both residents of the village.
Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilized a team of patrol officers and swiftly responded to the scene. The police engaged the bandits in a gunfight, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest.
The victims were rescued unharmed, and efforts to apprehend the fleeing bandits are ongoing.
Katsina Police Foil Banditry Attack, Rescue Kidnapped Victims
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