By Eric Elezuo
It was a gathering of champions at the weekend when seasoned and accomplished journalist, administrator and politician, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, proved his networking and networth prowess.
The Convention Hall of the Eko Hotels and Suites was the venue, and it quickly became a beehive of activities with the calibre of celebrities, nobles and dignitaries that turned up in their numbers to honour a man, who many have described as a completely detribalised Nigerian. The event was the launch of his newest titles; My Life in the Public Eye, to commemorate his 85th Birthday. He was born on July 15, 1936.
Osoba has been verily honoured in many quarters for his steadfastness in the field of journalism, humanity and public relations, and so it was not a surprise when the big wigs, the creme de la creme of the society turned from every corner of the earth to give honour to whom honour is due.
On the roll call of A-list attendees to the event are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prince Bolaji Akinyemi; Chief Alex Duduyemi, former Delta State governor, Mr. James Ibori, former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Otunba Niyi Adebanjo, Ondo State governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu, former Sec Gen of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; CEO, Bison, Prince Bisi Olatilo; Oba Otudeko, Senator Uba Sani, Sir Kesington Adebutu, Olori Ladun Sijuade, Chief Sunny Kuku, Lady Maiden Ibru, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ope Bamidele, Chairman, ThisDay/Arise News, Chief Nduka Obaigbena; President, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu among a host of very many other important dignitaries.
Accomplished pen-man, who attended Methodist Boys High School, it was not a coincidence that the event of the day fell exactly on the 60th anniversary of his foray into journalism.
At 85, Osoba’s strides speak volumes, and go before him. These as much were captured by all the speeches and remarks by notable individuals at the book presentation including Vice President Shettima, Fashola and Dapo Abiodun.
It could be recalled that during one his birthdays in the past, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida recognized him as detribalised, suave, urbane, cerebral, seasoned and profoundly accomplished.
“Chief Segun Osoba remains one of Nigeria’s detribalised and essentially cosmopolitan octogenarians, suave, urbane, cerebral, seasoned and profoundly accomplished journalist who cut his professional teeth at a time when technology was still a huge challenge,” Babangida had written.
While wishing Osoba the best, he noted that “your sun has just begun to shine. You remain to me as one of the most patriotic Nigerians I have come across in my sojourn in life”.
No doubt one of the finest journalists Nigeria has ever produced, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was the Editor and Managing Director of government-owned Daily Times Nigeria Ltd under Babangida’s regime. He had bitter experiences like his compatriots.
Osoba revealed that Babangida sacked him three times while Abacha made attempts on his life three times due to his alignment with NADECO.
Osoba said in parts, “I will call him by his name. Three times Babangida sacked me. Three times he re-instated me. At last, he converted my sack to resignation. Three times Abacha wanted to kill me. I was in hiding for one year,” he said.
That explained how dangerously he pursued his duties, and even at the risk of his own life, he never backed down. He is a believer in the truth, and as Governor Abiodun has described him in more than one forum, a role model to every lover of truth.
In his opening lines of an article titled Osoba’s Metamorphosis, in celebration of Osoba’s 80th birthday, Mr. Babatunde Jose, an ally and contemporary in journalism, said, “Having read Chief Olusegun Osoba’s book; Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics, and my personal life journey with the author, my take away from the book is that it is a story of an unending adventure with fate. A man whose resilience, hard work, perseverance and belief in himself and service to God and man has paved the path for a successful life in what we could describe as the cauldron called the Nigerian post-colonial state.
“Born during the colonial era of the early constitutional development in Nigeria; precisely 1939, during the governor generalship of Sir Bernard Bourdillon 1935-1943 who laid the groundwork for the constitutional proposals which his successor Sir Arthur Richards (Lord Milverton) later submitted in 1944 and which became the Richard’s Constitution. He succeeded in convincing the Northern Emirs of the advisability of coming to join with the southerners in the Legislative Council of the country.”
Mr. Jose further added: “What we are witnessing today is a schism in the political class; a crack in the political pot and a return to primitivism, parochial and primordial tendencies. In all these however, Olusegun Osoba stands out as one political animal who has cut a distinct persona for himself and a different breed from the hubris of ‘come and chop’ political class; a collective of brigands and ruthless socio-economic barracudas, hell bent on robbing the national coffers of all that it contain.
“His sojourn in journalism started during the time of his adopted uncle and godfather, late Alhaji Babatunde Jose. Being a good student of human philosophy, Osoba would imbibe the salient qualities of his mentor to rise and shine above his peers. Despite his apogee in journalism, he was not only cool headed but worked hard to maintain his comportment. This is attested to in the wide network of his associates, particularly in his youthful, clubbing and rascally days. He never lost focus and at the back of his mind was always the dictum: Remember the son of whom you are.
“As it was in journalism, so had it been in politics. Having worked closely with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the man with a mission, Osoba had no choice but to pitch his tent with the progressive elements of Nigerian politics. It worked and has continued to work for him.
“In all these however, one trait that has been discernible in Osoba’s personality is his contentment in life.”
To Dele Momodu, he is the grandfather of journalism.
“He was as dynamic in politics as he had been in journalism. I was not very surprised by his conquests and giant strides. His suaveness and impeccability were such that his successes were assured in whatever he touched,”said Momodu.
It is with deep of respect that we raise a toast to grand Commander of Nigerian journalism as he clock 85years today.
Congratulations sir!
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