By Zubairu Idris/Abdullahi Shugaba
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has expressed shock over the death of Malam Wada Maida, a renowned journalist and former Editor-in-Chief/Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Maida died in Abuja on Monday. He was aged 70.
Masari said in a statement issued by his Director-General on Media, Alhaji Abdu Labaran on Tuesday in Katsina that: “Nigeria has lost one of its finest citizens who distinguished himself as an accomplished journalist, newspaper proprietor and administrator par excellence”.
The governor described the deceased as a close friend and an associate.
He added that Katsina State had lost one of its most illustrious sons, who served not only the state, but Nigeria meritoriously in various capacities, including as spokesman of the current President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was the Military Head of State in 1984.
He condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate family of the deceased, and his friends and associates.
He prayed the Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Paradise, as well as give the family the courage and fortitude to bear the great loss.
Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, was one of the pioneer editors of the agency and served at various times as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor and London Correspondent.
He returned to NAN in 1985 to become its Editor-in-Chief for eight years.
Maida, from Katsina State, was appointed NAN Managing Director in 1994 and served in that capacity for nine years before he bowed out in 2003.
Until his death, the deceased was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.
NAN Acting Managing Director, Mr Dele Ojo, while reacting to Maida’s death, described the news as “shocking and devastating”.
“It is difficult to believe this news. It is very devastating. God knows best,” Ojo said in a telephone interview.