Sam Nda-Isaiah: The Last Handshake, By Louis Achi

According to the American theologian, Dr Samuel Sullivan, “The ways of the spirit offer something that does not lend itself to be domesticated or controlled, or quantified. They call us to a journey of wonder and also to a journey of responsibility in which we are expected to continue to ask the hard questions and to probe.”

This non-mechanistic insight into humanity’s troubling journey by Sullivan perhaps provides a good prism from which to attempt a brief deconstruction of the Sam Nda-Isaiah story. Scientist, media entrepreneur, politician and Kakakin Nupe (traditional spokesperson of Nupe people), he exited this plane on December 11, with unsettling suddenness.

Cut to the bone, Sam’s odyssey was fundamentally a journey of wonder and also to a journey of responsibility in which he persistently asked the hard questions and continued to probe – till his last gasp. I should know.

I met the Kakin Nupe (Sam) in late 2008, when the mix of a desire to explore ‘mysterious’ Northern Nigeria and good old wanderlust made me exit THISDAY (Lagos), as Associate Editor and join LEADERSHIP (Abuja), as Deputy Editor, anchoring the politics content of the stable’s three titles. Another factor that lured me to LEADERSHIP was Abdulazaq Bello-Barkindo, now Head of Media at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Secretariat, Abuja.

Bello-Barkindo, another restless soul, is an ex-THISDAY editor who earlier weighed anchor from Lagos and berthed at LEADERSHIP as editor of the daily title. Quickly, Razaq introduced me to Sam and we assessed each other, meeting for the first time. One important point here, Sam was an ardent fan of THISDAY and its publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena. I was lodged in a hotel (for the next six months) and work began.

From backdoor feedback from Sam’s office, I suspect, I won him over when I scripted the lead essay that conferred LEADERSHIP Persons of the Year Award (2008) on the three dissenting Supreme Court Justices in the Four-Three split judgement that made late President Umaru Yar’Adua retain his electoral victory over Muhammadu Buhari in 2008. This was two months after I joinedthe newspaper. Sam drew me pretty closely to himself thereafter.

Shortly, he appointed me Acting Editor, LEADERSHIP Sunday. Other perks and courtesies followed. That’s Sam for you. But some irreverent snitches warned me – enjoy the honeymoon while it lasted. By simply being a THISDAY ambassador to LEADERSHIP – a defensive line I sold to Nduka Obaigbena after crossing his path at Abuja Hilton – Sam drew me close and into a whirlpool of editorial activities in LEADERSHIP.

From the editorial board to a laundry list of short-notice editorial interventions, it was a dizzying but adventurous journey. “Where, where are you Achi? Have, have you heard that, that Mariam Babangida is dead? Write, write a tribute, pronto!” Meanwhile, I was at Maiduguri Airport, headed back to Abuja, from a ‘private’ visit. I whipped out my laptop and started writing.

“Achi, Achi, Michael Jackson is dead; start, start writing.” Ideally, an entertainment editor should handle this. But Sam will not hear of that. There were so many of these scenarios. It was a recipe for a burn-out but luckily, I held my ground. But my biggest assignment at LEADERSHIP was editing the tome – Nigeria@50. The mammoth project eventually decided my final relationship with Sam.

Sam’s avant-garde non-conformism spoke to a restlessness of spirit that drove him to attempt projects in diverse arenas many would see as impossible. That was the quintessential Kakakin Nupe.

Was Sam a candidate for sainthood? Certainly not – and he was never heard laying claim to that esoteric status. But then sainthood has never been a requirement for membership of the quirky cartel – Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

With a fair sense of family, very stubborn streak, laser-like entrepreneurial focus and a pungent sense of humour, Sam impacted many lives in different ways and contributed considerably to the national discourse of a nation in the bruising throes of change.

Now, to my “last handshake” with Sam. Sometime in August, Azu Ishiekwene, the publisher/editor-chief of THE INTERVIEW magazine, former Group Managing Director at LEADERSHIP, invited me to join an embryonic team that would produce a book publication for the LEADERSHIP Group, marking Nigeria@60. I immediately knew that though Azu represented the arrowhead, Sam was behind the project and invitation.

Though I deliberately restricted myself to sending birthday greetings to Sam (which he politely acknowledged often with inquiries after my health and work), I had not made a major contact with Sam since I left LEADSERSHIP almost eight years ago.

So with this invitation coming 10 years after I had edited Nigeria@50, in 2010, I felt – what gives. For a major national milestone pegged for October 1, starting to generate content for book of such import, from mid-August was pretty tight but possible, depending on the team. That was a typical Sam project.

For me, with an experienced hand like Azu, as project driver and the veteran guru Aniebo participating, I felt we can fly with it. Next, I gave my pre-conditions for participation as a key team member. Azu discussed with Sam who trimmed down my pre-conditions.

When Azu got back to me with Sam’s funding ceiling, I told it was unacceptable to me. Being an outhouse participant gave me somewhat more bargaining muscle than ten years previously. I also took Aniebo in confidence on this score. To his credit, Azu genuinely tried to get me on board but I told him I would sleep on the matter and feed him back the following morning – which I did.

The following morning, I sent a message to Azu, which in essence was to Sam: “In work we seek meaning. Despite a substantial, acrid grind this search demands, our choices define us. The NIGERIA@60 project which you kindly listed me as participant wears two togas: the scholarly-literary robe and the transactional-commercial gown.

“Either way, a legitimate benefit is implied and/or assured. But after due reflection, I request to be excused from participation. I particularly appreciate your valued consideration in inviting me. I am certainly open to future engagements within our industry. Warm regards.”

This was my last message to Sam and that was in late August, four months before he died. By rejecting participation in LEADERSHIP’s Nigeria@60 project, I sadly and painfully turned down Sam’s last handshake.

Within this painful, reflective period of Sam’s exit, certain old fundamental questions arise again. Are we on earth just to live and die? Is there a deeper purpose to existence and just what is that purpose? Are we just mere toys and glorified hostages of time?

Religions and philosophies have provided cut and dried answers to these and a host of other similar questions over the millennia. For some folks, the prescriptions of their pet philosophies and favourite religions serve satisfactorily for these troubling existential questions.

Something of an irreverent pied piper, Sam led us all through an exhilarating adventure of self-rediscovery. At home with Mr. President, governors; politicians, Generals, the Sultan of Sokoto and traditional rulers, scientists, carpenters, farmers or fishermen – Sam effortlessly drew upon that inexhaustible reservoir of stuttering folksy charm; that distinguishing hallmark of a unique spirit.

It was one of life’s privileges to have associated with you Sam, as a boss and mentor. Though I can only speak for myself at this difficult time, I suspect I may have spoken for a large number of folks whose lives you have touched and changed.

To Zainab, your grieving spouse and your young children; to Abraham, Solomon and Jonathan your siblings I know; to the great Nda-Isaiah family of Nupe land, I say take heart, as Sam has taken the final bow.

After all, to live in the hearts of those you love is not to die.

▪︎Achi, ex Associate Editor, THISDAY, is former editor and member editorial board of LEADERSHIP.