Dictionary defines shame as a painful emotion caused by having done something wrong or improper. In other places it is referred to as the ability to feel shame or something that brings or causes shame or strong regret.
Similarly, shame also has to do with something that is disappointing or not satisfactory and can be an uncomfortable feeling of guilt or of being ashamed because of own mistake, failure or bad behavior.
So, many days ago I got myself ashamed when the former Managing Director of the Triumph Publishing Company who I used to refer to my MD who I also see as my role modale sent a Whatsapp text message to my cellphone. The content of the text was a simple task but for me a very difficult one to effect.
But before I unfolded what the text massage was all about, let me first made some clarifications.For the avoidance of doubt, my MD’s massage was a very simple and easy task which can be effected or carried out in few seconds but became too difficult for me to actualize due to some certain reasons which I will state.
As I mentioned, it was nothing serious. It was simply a request to send him the phone number of somebody my MD knew I know and related very well before which he introduced to me as his former class and school mate.So the text message reads, “please, send me the phone number of Malam Shehu Buhari.”
Here the phone number of the person my MD was asking me to provide to him is the present secretary of the Kano State Football Association.
For sure, it is my involvement in sports journalism which my MD relied on and presume I must know and have that person’s phone number.
And before his retirement from civil service and secured secured Kano FA’s job, Shehu Buhari had served in different capacities in the then Kano State Sports Council now Kano State Sports Commission.
Buhari was Kano Pillars Stadium Manager, Sani Abacha Stadium Manager, secretary Kano FA secretary and was the HOD Grassroots.
And as a sports writer and analyst, nobody and not even my MD will think of me lacking the phone number of the man who is occupying the position of the Kano FA secretaryship.
But my MD and many others were unaware of the fact that ever since the Triumph Company was shut down in 2012, its staffers transferred to ministries and other MDAs and my sports column (sports eye) suspended, my relationship with people like Shehu Buhari ended.
Because they don’t see me as a sports analyst or a sports stakeholder anymore despite my contribution to the sector. This made him and many others to forget about me totally which did not in anyway bothered me.
Fate got me transferred to an academic enviro ment, the Kano State Polytechnic from the office of the Head of Civil Service to be a tutor.
Shehu Buhari’s and other people attitudes made me face my new assignment which demands one to develop himself academically with higher qualifications.
This without hesitation made me to seek for admission for Masters in University of Ibadan which I did not succeed because of HND/BSc dichotomy.
That forced me to change gear and seek and got admission into the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN twice. The first was for my BSc Information Technology and the second for MSc in the same discipline.
And it was when I retire from civil service last year that I decided to come back to pen pushing arena which made me to established an online news sports site namely (sports eye) with www.sportseye.com as web its web address.
And for sure and the avoidance of doubt, the former Triumph’s MD, my MD is a person I so much appreciated and respected very well and is one I don’t want to disappoint or fail.
My MD is a genius when it comes to journalism, the job he knows best. His name is one that continues to be the most recognized in the journalism industry not in Kano but the country as a whole.
His illustrious career spanning several decades both in broadcast, print and now online journalism and he regularly commented or analyses some of the most hard-hitting topics either in the country or in the world.
I see my MD as one who belongs to those that encourages and allows their subjects or co-workers to be what they want to be. He is one person I see not as an opportunist in the profession but one born as a journalist with journalistic instinct flowing in his veins.
He is one who knows the job and is ready to do that job anytime and anywhere perfectly devoid of errors or mistakes.
He was the MD with a difference because during his MDs ship, he gave everybody the chance and opportunity to do his or her work to his/her best ability without any hindrance or undue interference.
He was the last MD Triumph had before the former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ordered for its closure in 2012.
Even his detractors will agree with me that this particular gentleman knows his job and is very friendly to all.
He was not like others that used their positions to threat, maltreat or intimidate their co-workers. He sees everybody as a friend or brother.
As my former boss, who was instrumental to what I am today, that is why I see him as the first class of leaders who make things happen but not those who watch things happen or those who wander at what’s happening.
My MD is a man whose life is an embodiment of goodness. He is a patriot, a legend, a priceless gem, irreplaceable; a precious and a man of good character, who is standing for values and truth all the time.
So all the above indicators combined and made me to see him as a great man who does not deserve to be failed or turn down.
So when the text message reached me, I quickly went through my phonebook to check if I had Buhari’s contact even though I knew there was none. I lost Shehu Buhari’s contact more than a decade ago.
So the only option available is to look elsewhere and get the number for my MD’s used.
Therefore, I had to use another means to get Malam Shehu Buhari, the Kano Football Association Secretary’s phone number.
So noticing his seriousness about the request, I called one Jamilu Uba Adamu, an officer with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who is the chairman, security committee of the Kano State Football Association. But sadly, the number he sent was not going so I decided to look somewhere else.
Therefore, my next contact was Muhammad Wasilu Kawo, a vibrant and very popular Nasara Radio sports broadcaster who without delay sent it to me which without delay forwarded it to my MD.
And with admiration my MD sent back his appreciation and pleasant comments which made me happy because he was happy with my effort.
From that time I saved the number and also used the number and called Shehu Buhari which signaled a new relationship and friendship.