Waheed Bakare, Telegraph Saturday Editor is dead, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs mourns

*Defender Media Limited says it has lost a friend

*Ex-NAWOJ Lagos leader, Sekinah Lawal, says death sad

By Busola Samuel

The easy going Saturday Editor of New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Waheed Bakare, is dead.

His death came as a surprise to many of his friends and colleagues.

Waheed died of an undisclosed ailment in Lagos evening of Eid-el-Fitr day that is Sunday May 2, 2020 in Lagos.

His body will be buried on Monday according to Islamic rites.

He had worked at Punch Newspaper and other media organisations before coming to New Telegraph, a job he did until he breathed his last.

In its swift reaction, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Sunday expressed its condolences to the family and professional community of the late journalist.

In a message titled “When death calls”, announcing Bakare’s demise on a platform, Alhaji Femi Abass, on behalf of the Media Committee of the NSCIA, described him as an ardent journalist of international repute.

Alhaji Abass said: “Inna Lillah wa inna ilayhi raji’un!

“We of the Media Committee of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), hereby announce the demise of one of us, Waheed Bakare, an ardent journalist of international repute. Allahu Akbar!

“As at the time he breathed his last in the evening of 1441AH Eidul Fitr day (Saturday, May 24, 2020), the Media Ambassador Bakare was the Saturday Editor of New Telegraph newspaper.

“His demise after a brief illness of about two weeks has come to reduce our media strength by a chunk. And, now, without him on board, the train of our profession continues its journey to a port of no specific destination.

“Whenever we announce the obituary of a fellow, male or female, we hardly think of the implications of such for now or for the future.
Nigerian Journalists, particularly Muslims, are an endangered professional specie whose deaths entail nothing more than meer lamentations with consequential public indifference.

“Like many of his colleagues, dead or alive, Waheed Bakare devoted his life to the service of Islam with little or no encouragement, at all, from most concerned quarters.

“Now, in death, he left behind, not only a wife but children as well. And this is a time when Journalists in private media outfits are virtually on their own in terms of salaries and other benefits. Who now cares for Bakare’s family?

“Judging by the situation and circumstances of existence, Nigeria can be described as a country in permanent war of attrition with herself. And, the main courageous warriors on the battle field are the Journalists. Yet, they are not adequately equipped to fight that war. Is it a crime to be a Journalists? That is a question for Nigerian Muslim Ummah to answer.

“While wishing the family of Waheed Bakare the right fortitude with which to bear the entailed agony of his demise, we also pray the Almighty Allah to repose the soul of deceased in perfect eternal bliss. Amin. INNA LILLAH WA INNA ILAYHI RAJI’UN!”

In their reactions, management of Defender Media Limited and immediate past Chairman Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, Alhaja Sekinah Lawal, have described the late Waheed Bakare as humble friend and brother.

In a comment, Defender Media Limited, publishers of The DEFENDER Newspaper, said by this shocking death it has lost a friend and brother.

It prayed: “Oh Allah, if this (a past deed) was the only one good work Brother Waheed Bakare did, let it take him into your Jannatul Firdaus. Amiin.”

Sekinah Lawal said: “Really sad indeed. Such a gentle and humble brother. We spoke three days ago not knowing that will be the last, feeling so sad wallahi.”