I saw the sad news on Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde’s timeline and called to confirm only for it to be repeated.
“Abdulrauf ko, kayi hakuri ban kira ba,” that was what my uncle Maikudi Kalunga told me immediately after he picked up my call. At that moment, I knew the meticulous Abdulrauf Musa has indeed passed away. He died on Friday, October 14 after a protracted battle with diabetes.
Abdulrauf was my first editor and the single most important person that I’ll never forget in my dive into the commentary world. He helped me turn my thoughts into published words. From the now-defunct Daily Stream to Abuja Chronicle, Rauf edited the pieces I usually sent him and get them published in the most timely fashion. I wish Abdulrauf were alive to see how far I’d come.
A celebrated media figure, Abdulrauf has served in various positions in several media houses over the years including Media Trust Limited, Leadership Newspapers, Peoples Daily, The Companion, Daily Stream, and recently Hamada FM in Kaduna.
Colleagues remember him for his simplicity and generosity and also the significant role he played in the formative years of Media Trust, the publishers of Weekly Trust at the time, and today’s Daily Trust and Aminiya newspapers.
May Allah have mercy on him and forgive his shortcomings. My heartfelt condolences to Maikudi Kalunga, my uncle who connected me with him. May the Almighty also grant his family, friends, and colleagues the strength to bear the loss.
As Ibrahim Sheme noted, “an important part of the history of journalism in northern Nigeria” is gone. Truly, a gentleman and publishing guru has returned to his Lord.
Labaran Yusuf,
Jos, Plateau state
