Aliyu Ismaila Condoles the Family of Late Chief Timawus Mathias

Daily Rendezvous 

The Family of Late 

Chief Timawus Mathias

CONDOLENCE LETTER

On Behalf of my family, Native Authority Primary (NA) and Bronnum Secondary School Old Boys, Numan Muslim Community, I write to condole the family, Pene Da Bwatiye, Government and people of Adamawa State over the passing on of our brother, uncle, father, Chief Mathias – Nzubyalata Homun Bachama.

2. It was with mixed feelings that we received the death because while we are naturally saddened by his passing away, we are equally proud of his achievements and indelible imprints he left on the sands of time. Our brother, Timawus, probably had a premonition of his transition to eternal glory, for after he recovered, he posted a message on his frightening experience on some social media platforms, where he was very active, and urged his readers to await further posts which he will share his deeply moving experiences with them. Little did Uncle Tim’s well-wishers and other readers of his post know that the said update will come in form of announcement of his transition from mortality to immortality.

3. There are not many words to capture the description of his person because of quantum legacy he has left behind, it is simply because he was larger than life. For me as a person, he is an elder brother, in the world of education, he is a towering member of our Alumni at both Native Authority Primary and Bronnum Secondary Schools, and as a Muslim leader, born and bred in the great city of Numan, he stands tall as a man of peace and promoter of communal harmony of all faiths, ethnic nationalities and a strong believer of the collective good of all. For those who see life in this context, they have learned to live every day of their life as if it was the end, making a huge impact, making meaning and touching lives everywhere they go. Chief Timawus was one of those who see life like this, that is why to us, it does not matter whether he was seven or seventy, he lived a fulfilled life of great impact. This is the reality of life and the chance that we all have within this expanse of time we call life. We are marking the departure of our friend, father, brother, mentor and an icon to many, who like Roosevelt said, “had the best prize to work at what was worth working at” and for Chief Timawus Mathias, he has engraved his name in Gold doing what is worth doing, The Media.

4. Timawus Mathias first shot into prominence in the 1970s when at Radio Television Kaduna (RTK), he excelled as a producer of children’s programmes, news anchor and one of the prime movers of the Current Affairs unit of the station. But Uncle Tim had his eyes on higher goals and more impressive achievements that will catapult him to national prominence, rather than remain a local star. By dint of hard work, he attracted the attention of the big guns at the then headquarters of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in Victoria Island, Lagos. This ultimately led to his secondment to Victoria Island where he was posted to serve as member of the special team constituted by NTA Network News for the comprehensive coverage of the 1983 general elections under a special programme dubbed Verdict 83.

5. As one of the Anchors of Verdict 83, Uncle Tim shone like a million stars on the programme and received national plaudits. In recognition of his excellent performance on Verdict 83, Tim was posted to NTA Yola as its General Manager, a position he held for seven years during which he successfully steered the television station through its formative years. In between his seven – year tenure, Uncle Tim served as acting Managing Director of NTA Zone E in Maiduguri. 

6. I always believe that great people have a way of scribbling down their own stories before their death as Timawus did. He lived his life to the fullest, made indelible impacts in his field of endeavor, touched lives, set outstanding records and legacies, raised hundreds of next generations of media practitioners and influenced his area of expertise, wherever he went. Just the baritone of his masterly voice in a documentary drives it to an unbelievable realm of the finesse of a pure work of art produced by the genius that he was and his personality also lends Credence, integrity, believability and power to any piece of media work that he sets his mind to do, because it is not just the art, the power of his work exudes from who he really is and the compendium of powerful memories he has laid down as the foundation upon which he stands on as a legend in his own right. As a Muslim leader, here in Numan community, and I speak for myself and for all, Chief Timawus Mathias was a father, a leader, and the center from which peace, unity, and oneness emanate. He always sees the good in every one of us and seeks at all times to spread love, peace, and unity and does everything in his power to make peace and love triumph over petty little sentiments. He believes in the blessings of our diversity as a nation and works to strengthen the plurality that symbolizes the collective resolve of our country towards Unity, Peace, and Faith.

7. Chief Timawus sees past our colour, our religion, our ethnicity, or geographical prescription. For him, integrity, hard work, and discipline define people not where they come from, not the language they speak, or what they believe in. That is the towering legacy of being human and humane that Chief Timawus Mathias has left us to fill. Chief Timawus has left us with a huge void that would be difficult or even impossible to fill and he would be missed as a father to all and an inspiration to millions in the country. As an old boy of Bronnum Secondary school in Numan, Chief Timawus Mathias embodies the quality, standard, and excellence that represents the lofty heights where our education used to be and he was a shining star among those of us that have been blessed by this great institution of learning.  Mathias was the best big brother anyone would ever wish for. Growing up, he was an inspiration, a guide, and a man of immense quality that inspires us all to dream for something greater than ourselves and to take our place among the greats in our community and the country. He was a great manager of Human resources, and those of us that were with him up close saw him as an elder brother who rose to become a national icon and TV personality, a character worthy of emulation. He inspired us all to greatness and extraordinary progress in life, for that alone sir, we thank you.

8. Even after his death, you would know that he was such a colossus of a man. We have at his house on a daily basis captains of industries, business moguls, top government functionaries at both the national and state levels, and media icons from across our country, to honor the man, having made his mark in the sands of our time. Chief Timawus Mathias because of you, we have learned to believe that we can make the impossible happen, and even at death, you only showed us that there is greatness in every one of us and that all we need to do is dream big and believe. To his immediate family, friends and well-wishers, you have no reason at all to be sad but that we are human and we have lost his companionship. I urge you to take solace in God who knows all things and that this happens for a reason he knows better than we do. You have a reason to hold your head up high because has left us memories that would outlive him for several generations.

9. On behalf of the bodies I represent, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family, our most respected Royal Majesty, Homun Dr Daniel Ismaila Shaga Kpawononwme Gilongo diya, High Royal Majesty, Alhamdu Gladstone Teneke,

Hama Batta, Kpah’ Ngashe, Tuculoh Batta, Diyoshitoto, Friends, Colleagues and associates of Late Uncle Tim. It is an understatement that we truly have lost one very rare gem. May the soul of the amiable Uncle Timawus Mathias find Peace Profound in the bosom of the lord, Amen.

Aliyu Isma’ila

(Turakin Batta)

President,

Bronnum Secondary School

Old Boys 

Alumni