05/08/2024
“For the proprietor and publisher of the paper, the late Malam Ismaila Isah Funtua, he did what most of the present day politicians are shying away from; he embraced all political friends that shared the same party ideology with him and political opponents. He interacted with all the political class, irrespective of party differences.
“His support to humanity in general had no boundary as his helping hands reached all parts of this country. He gave out without discrimination on gender, religion or tribe. Contemporary politicians should emulate the virtues of late Malam Ismaila Isah,” he said.
Femi Owolabi, one man who had followed closely the activities of Funtua, gave an insight into the life of the late elder statesman as, according to him, throughout Muhammadu Buhari’s administration up until the elder statesman death in 2020, one name noted to be a close and top confidant of the president was Funtua. “The government, it was alleged, was being controlled by a cabal in which Funtua reportedly played an active role alongside Mamman Daura, Babagana Kingibe and the late Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari.
“Rather than shy away from the now popular cabal label, Funtua declared that he was, in fact, not a member of the president’s clique but was the cabal himself.
“The ‘cabal himself’ breathed his last on July 20, 2020 and the news of his death came as a shock. Just three hours before he reportedly died of cardiac arrest, he had spoken on the phone with Ben Murray-Bruce, former senator who said the late media colossus promised to call again the next day, but death came calling.”
According to Owolabi, Funtua was someone who never believed in the concept of restructuring as being canvassed by its adherents. He was of the opinion that attention should be paid more on leaders at all tiers of government rather than on restructuring the entity.
