Sidi Ali: Tribute to Veteran Journalist, Author, and Politician
By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
I was not in my regular station in Minna as I took a brief trip to Abuja for an all important matter. In the night of Thursday, 25th April, 2024, I was reading in the news that Alhaji Sidi Ali had passed on. Innalillahi waina ilaihi rajiun
He was the father of the current Spokesperson of Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Hakama Sidi Ali (Mrs). According to the news, he was among second Republic Parliamentarian.
Many mourners have trooped to his residence at the NNDC Quarters, Hotoro GRA, Tarauni local government area of Kano State for condolences. He was buried on Friday 26th April, 2024.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf in a condolence message signed by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa described late Ali as a trusted public servant who made sacrifices to ensuring that Nigeria remains a united and indivisible country.
The Governor acknowledged the positive contributions of the deceased as a Senator in the Second Republic in shaping the Parliament and the overall development of democracy in the country. He extended condolences to his families and prayed for those he left behind to have the courage to bear the loss.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the late author describing him as a creative writer. Part of his condolences reads:
“I am pained by the demise of the noted journalist, author, and politician, Sidi H. Ali, who won my heart and that of many through his critical writings and the two books he wrote about me.” The former President equally expressed his condolences to his family and admirers.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin has extolled the virtues of the deceased, saying he contributed immensely to the development of the country in both political and media spheres.
According to a statement from his Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir the deputy Senate President describes Ali thus: ” The death of our late elder statesman, Alhaji Sidi Ali,is not a loss to his immediate family alone, but a monumental loss to the country as a whole.
He served our country meritoriously in different capacities and displayed his wealth of talent for the unity and growth of the nation.”
Barau was at their Hotoro GRA residence in Kano to commiserate with his family and urged them to remain united, and emulate the good virtues of their late father.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in a statement described late Sidi Ali as a respected veteran journalist, prolific writer, and a politician whose contributions to the field of journalism, literature, and politics have left an indelible mark.
He added that Alhaji Sidi Ali, throughout his career, exemplified high standards of professionalism and integrity and provided invaluable insights with historical references into the pressing issues of time.
The minister said that as the nation mourns the loss of Alhaji Sidi Ali, his wisdom, compassion, and dedication to his craft would continue to inspire generations to come.
In the words of Senator Shehu Sani, the mournful message reads:
“I received the sad news of the demise of a renowned Elder statesman, author, journalist, politician and historian, Alhaji SIDI ALI.
Apart from Tafawa Balewa and Sardauna of Sokoto, no other Northerner was closely known by historic figures and World leaders in the 60s and 70s like the late SIDI.
The late Elderstateman was personally known by President JF Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcom X, Muhammad Ali, Kwame Nkrumah and many others.
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The late Sidi Ali was a human library and a prolific writer. He was one man who could recall every event that happened in Nigeria’s history from independence till date. A great loss. My condolences to his family and the good people of Kano State.
May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi, Amin.”
In the same vein, Lauretta Onochie, the Former Personal Assistant to Former President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, on her Facebook post also mourned honourable Sidi Ali. According to her, he was a great journalist, a great writer and a father to her.
One of his daughters said “Baba was a people’s person , he loved people generally across all strata. A humanitarian to the core.
A true Nigerian.
We grew up wearing clothes from MKO Abiola, Oloye Olusola Saraki, and many others”
According to a family source”The late Senator Joseph Tarka family and the people of Benue state were at the deceased residence on a condolence call. The Sidi Ali family and the Tarka Family have a long standing decades of close relationship. Senator Joseph Tarka is the father of the SGF”.
The former Registrar/Chief Executive National Examinations Council NECO, and the Vice Chancellor, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu University, Kano,Professor Abdulrashid Garba also paid a condolence visit to the family.
Professor Hannatu Sabo, the Jigawa State Commissioner for finance, budget and planing also visited personally to sympathize with the family. Alhaji Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa State Governor,
Former Minister of State for works and Housing, Hon Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub , Senator Gumel, A member of Federal House Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and others in the National Assembly from Kano State, Former Senator Aminu Inuwa, Representatives of Kano Emirate, Sarkin Dawaki Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, Kano APC Caucus, Professor Dandago, Kano Commercials, traders and Academic communities were also fully represented during the condolence visit.
The elder statesman spent years serving the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission, among other critical institutions.
He travelled wide and his vast experience influenced his affection for journalism and communication. Ali authored 19 books, one of which is “Corruption in High Society”
According to Daily Trust Newspaper (27th April, 2023) “Ali was born in Kano but travelled to Ghana, where he met the country’s political leader, Kwame Nkrumah, who arranged for him to travel to London, and later, the United States to further his education”
In his 2018 birthday message, Former President Muhammadu Buhari established that Ali spent most of his life serving the country as a public affairs officer, “most remarkably for ensuring accurate and balanced information on government activities during and after the civil war.” (PR Nigeria news)
Personally, based on what I have read about late Sidi Ali, one can conclude that he was a fearless and pragmatic writer. It was reported that he was arrested by the regime of General Yakubu Gowon for writing an article against the Federal Government.
A good writer is always sensitive and can’t look away when things are not properly done. To me, a coward can’t be a writer. The responsibility of an average writer is to use his pen to draw the attention of leaders to social anomalies in the society with a view to correcting them.
Honourable Sidi Ali was an APC Stalwart and a member of party’s Elders Committee in Kano State. He died at the age of 86 and was survived by children and grandchildren.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him aljannah firdaus.Ameen
