On Wednesday, June 25, Senate held a valedictory session for former chairman of the Committee on Federal Character and a Inter-Governmental Affairs, the late Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta. Being the only legislative business of the day, plenary ended early with some time on my hands.
I had some errands to run in town, which couldn’t wait till the weekend and so, I headed to Utako District. Midway into the first appointment, my host told me there was a bombing at Emab Plaza but casualties were yet unknown.
I didn’t know when I just turned the door handle of the office, ran out and began to make frantic phone calls. I was stunned and stupefied at the same time because if there’s anywhere in Abuja that’s a beehive of activities from am to pm, it’s Emab Plaza. Across Emab is Banex Plaza, which is equally as busy, if not more. Emab plaza is such a busy place that I avoid going there most times because it’s hectic, finding car space; even as early as 10:00am!
I know so many friends, who go to the plaza or its precincts for one thing or another. On that unfortunate day, Bisalla reportedly went to that place to repair a faulty phone. Besides, I have a friend, who owns businesses in the plaza. I tried to reach him when I heard of the blast but I didn’t succeed. That struck fear into me. Confused, I ended the meeting and rather than head back to work, all I could think of was the safety of my home and simply headed there.
It was when I got home that I learnt that the bomb had killed a top journalist and a colleague, Mallam Suleiman Bisalla. I met Bisalla in 2003 when Daily Independent redeployed me to cover the Senate.
At that time, he covered the Senate for the Plateau-based Standard Newspaper and I observed he was close to the then Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu. Bisalla, to me, was more like Senator Mantu’s protege. With time, we became friends and I got to know that he was not only a good reporter, he was also a gentleman. Quiet in behaviour, but was quite humorous when you got close to him.
When he left Standard and crossed over to Daily Trust, our paths crossed once in a while on mutual assignments. I could go on and on but the last thing you want to hear about a friend is that the person is dead. Those who died in the bomb blast with Bisalla didn’t sign a pact to die that day; same with all the those who were murdered in earlier but similar circumstances.
The unfortunate reality of their deaths is that they were “victims” in an intricate power play and methinks it’s time our leaders move beyond condemnation and mere rhetorics whenever these bombs go off. Today, one of our own has been mowed down in an unfortunate orgy of violence. Who knows whether it would be their children tomorrow?

Suleiman Bisalla: A promising life cut short