On completing the one-year NYSC during which I made
some useful friends, I remember moving straight to
Concord. I remember liad Tella, Deputy Editor's sermon
to me, I don't want to see your face, I want to see
your name on the pages, one afternoon that I went to
his office and he yelled at me, my friend, I've not
being seeing you, and I replied that I come to the
office every day. From that day, I pledged to write
myself to stupor. During the Orkar coup in 1990, I
remember daring the odds to report at Ewutuntun to
join the team of reporter on ground to report on the
failed on the failed coup that threaten the unity of
Nigeria. I received a letter of commendation before an
appointment letter in Concord for the act of bravery
in coming out to join the league of Concord reporters
on the red day.
I remember the wizardry of Wole Agunbiade, and his
lieutenants and successors: niyi Obaremi, Soni Ehi
Asuelimen, south-pawed Akin Ogunrinde and
fire-spitting kunmi olayiwola as news editors
marshalling the newsroom to make Concord very
competitive and authoritative. I remember my posting
to Yola as Bureau chief, the very day I received my
appointment letter. I remember the mercurial editor,
Nsikak Essien giving me the first litmust test on my
ability to report for National concord prior to
departing for Yola. Nsikak, a no-nonsense editor,
directed that the news Editor, Niyi Obaremi give me a
copy brief to do a special report on the scarcity of
Liquefied petroleum Gas. The very comprehensive story
written jointly with Abdulfatth Oladeinde, my alter
ego and twin brother in Concord, was published after
we had settled in our new stations. Abdulfattah was
also posted to Port Harcourt.
I remember the very good professional friends and
acquaintances I made in yola: the Ibrahim Moddibbo's,
the Zedekiah Shamaki's and the Akin Adesokans. I
remember Mallam Abubakr jijiwa, the then General
manager of Gongola State Broadcasting Corporation
facilitating for me the necessary network of contacts
to enrich my reporting from yola for my name to be
splashed on the front and back pages. I remember
striking very good rapport with Drs. Musa Moda and
Saleh M Toro who respectively headed National Agency
for Adult and Non-Formal Education and the upper Benue
River Benue Development Authority in the state. They
were my resource persons and development and
agricultural and Water resources policies. I remember
mr. Thomas Nathaniel, a very senior servant who was a
commissioner in the Local Government Service
Commission initiating me in the understanding of the
dynamics of politics in Gongola and Adamawa states for
me to write authoritatively without offending any
sensibility, ethnic or religious, in the vastly
diverse north eastern state that is the power house of
politics in Nigeria, unknown to many.
Through my experience in Yola, I developed a theorem
on political reporting that places political actors at
the low end of the indices of analysis, but looking at
the interests, issues, forces, trends as the drivers
while actors or people are just symbolic. So any
person can be a mouth piece of the other indices.
Reporting politics from Yola, I always ask a question:
Is the majority the minority or are the minorities in
majority. Usman Toungo, a very cerebral journalist in
the Fulfulde Service of Voice of Nigeria was later to
clarify the thesis further by differentiating between
the political majority and the numerical majority.
In real terms, the political majority are usually the
numerical minority in most polities in the third using
the numerical majority to achieve their political
goals and interests. The numerical minority is always
in power no matter the power calculation because they
command all the apparatus of power: intellectual,
economic and political, distributing only to those who
are their useful, pliable tools, clients and allies
among the numerical majority who are now the political
minority.
I remember the privilege of being drafted into the
Gongola State Muslim Council as the conveyor of
Bashorun MKO Abiola's zakat fund to Gongola/Adamawa
State attending meetings with the khadis and the
Lamido and being addressed as Dan Jerida Concord da
Wakilin Abiola in the council.
Yola was fulfilling for me professionally, as the city
to hone my political reporting skills and the Polity.
I returned to Lagos in my third year in Yola as
Concord Correspondent, marching to the political desk,
informed by my contributions to the political pages of
Concord newspapers while in the north eastern state of
Nigeria. But I still had eyes on the editorial board,
for that was where my heart was…being in the company
of eggheads and analysts, right from Akoka having
tasted a course in editorial writing at the feet of
the guru, Professor Luke Uka Uche, whose model of
cultural triangulation in explaining media imperialism
in the Third World is yet to be faulted in the
academic circles.
4. On the Hot Political Desk;
budding of a board member
Joining the political desk of the concord newspapers
on arrival from Yola, I gained strength in competing
for pages and attention with other very vibrant
journalists on the desk. Tunji Bello, as the political
editor, provided the leadership and motivation for us
to shine. Sam Omatseye, a master of free flowing prose
and deputy political editor was inspiring. Victor
Ifijeh was a rigorous writer, just as Felix Oboagwina.
Gboyega Amobonye was very detailed while Louis Odion
was colourful. As a student of history Jonas Agu has
deep insight, a virtue a shared with him as a research
oriented writer. Together we drove the political desk
to its height, serving as a pain in the neck of
indiscreet public officials. We were forceful and
engaging in analysis; we were forthright and
objective; we were unsparing yet very professional. We
had the confidence of the newspaper's management board
and the followership of readers.
Our political searchlight and politics on Sunday pages
were collectors' items with discourses and issues that
we feature. Tunji Bello was indeed a leader of men
when it comes to leading in journalism profession.
Tunji Bello mentored me in all the ramifications of
political reporting. With Sam omatseye as deputy
editor, supported by fearless writers like Victor
Ifijeh, Gboyega Amotonye, Felix Oboagwina, Jonas Agu
and Louis Odion on our star-studded political desk
marshalled by the liberal political scientist with
admiration for Keynesian school of Economics, Tunji.
That was a vibrant political desk. Bello, an Alfred
Friendly Press fellow and an award winning journalist
inspired in us the journalistic Puritanism to become
rational, liberal writers and thinkers.
The June 12 struggle sent all the ~Concord staff out
of job with the proscription of the paper in the dying
days of IBB. We were under lock under the Sonekan led-ING.
But we managed to come out with Daily News, a somewhat
guerrilla publication. Tunji Bello was called to edit
the paper and the political desk formed the core of
that paper. When Abacha sacked Sonekan-led ING, we
gained temporary relief, and resumed at Ewutuntun to
continue Concord. The reprieve did not endure before
we were sent into a fresh cooler. We returned to
Oshodi, now publishing Community Concord, again with
tunji Bello as the editor. When reasoned prevailed for
Concord to be reopened, tunji Bello emerged as Sunday
Editor, Dele Alake as Daily Editor and Segun Babatope
as the Chairman Editorial Board
On the editorial board to which Bello gave me a
recommendation as a research officer before graduating
to a leader writer, I remember the erudition of Kal
Kalada or Kayode Komolafe, the Marxist-Socialist
journalist; I remember the polemics of Segun Babatope,
a pastor in the Pasor Kumuyi led Deeper Life Church.
In Babatope, I learnt how to decorate writings with
flowers of language; I remember the passion of Iyiola
Faloyin; the depth of Isaac okoroafor, our in-house
economist; I savour the comradeship of Dayo Aiyetan
and the brilliance of Akeem Soboyede, young guy whose
lucidity of style endeared him to the editorial boards
of a few big newspapers before we snatched him in
Concord. He graduated with afirst class in English
from Unilag if I'm not mistaken. I remember the rigour
of Gbenga Owolabi, my partner as research officer. He
has gone ahead to acquire more academic laurels to
qualify him as a lecturer in one of the state
universities.
I remember the concern of Egbon Kunmi Olayiwola that I
should not commit professional suicide in benching
myself on the editorial board as an arm chair analyst,
but I had made up my mind that it is either I'm in the
academia or the editorial board. How can I forget
Brother Femi Adesina, the only oga who calls me by my
daughter's name, Daddy Aishat. No, I dare not. He
would always ask after Aishat each time we meet. I was
that special to him. As Features Editor while I was
the Foreign Desk coordinator (our officers are
adjacent), Femi was always assigning me some special
reports demanding intellectual rigour to feature on
his Star Feature Page, despite having a host of highly
talented staff writers under his command. His
predecessor on the Features Desk, Lanre Arogundade
also opened pages for me just as Taiwo Ogundipe who
edited a special art-oriented pull-out, the Midweek
Concord. I cannot forget Frank Igwebueze, who I
succeeded on the Foreign Desk, just as late Sunday
Alabi who came to serve out time on the Foreign Desk
in his last days in Concord. Frank who many considered
a difficult person to work with, I found out, was just
a passionate professional. He is a simple passion if
you share his passion and the verve and the language.
He allows you to thrive. I remember Waheed Odusile who
returned to the Foreing Desk as Group Head while I was
assistant foreign editor. I remember how we parted on
the desk and reconnected as brothers with same
mission, vision and goal in reporting public affairs
and the polity. I have fond memories of Ademola
Ogunlowo, chike Akabogu and Nnamdi Obasi, all very
cerebral members of the editorial board who I silently
admired and stole time from my desk to engage them in
little discussions. Their erudition fired me to work
towards joining the league of leader writers, which
eventually materialized, starting from the bottom of
the ladder as a research officer charged with sourcing
editorial topics, writing synopsis, providing the
backgrounds for the full members, writing my columns
and the writing remnant editorials.
With these antecedents, it was a smooth sail for me to
the editorial board of the upcoming National Guide
published by the veteran Muyiwa Adetiba at the crash
of National Concord at the dawn of 2001. They also led
me to the Monitor, published by Aare Arisekola Alao,
in Ibadan, at the invitation of Liad Tella, a fatherly
figure who has seen all in journalism. In Ibadan, I
combined role as member of the editorial board and the
deputy editor, the Monitor on Sunday answering to Femi
Abbas as Chairman of the editorial board and
submitting to Segun Dipe, a bohemian with zest for
life who was my editor on the Sunday desk.
For about two years, I was in Ibadan with a crop of
other journalists in my shoes, toiling day and night
to give the muscle to the resuscitated Monitor,
shuttling between Ibadan where the Monitor was based
and Lagos where I have everything about me and my
family. I remember the comradeship forged with Segun
Dipe, the Sunday Editor, Dipo Onabanjo, the daily
Editor and Femi Abbas, the deputy editor in chief and
chairman of the editorial board. Abbas is a man of
high intellect, passionate, diligent and
uncompromising on ethics.
I adore him. He challenged me to exert myself to the
fullest. I attained full growth in journalism under
him. I remember how I needed relieve myself of the
Sunday Desk rigour and concentrate on my primary
passion of op-ed desk.
5. Berth at Ikoyi;; flight to
Bandar; Nesting at Ikorodu
The Ibadan leg of my journey in journalism marked the
zenith of my full engagement in print journalism. It
was exhilarating. But it also marked my transition to
broadcasting. I needed to return to Lagos the
headquarters of Lagos-Ibadan press axis. Daar
Communications, Raypower 100.5 FM, a place of refuge
in the difficult days of Concord proscription where we
were addressed as distressed journalists was where I
returned when Ladi Lawal, a worthy brother offered the
platform, freshly, cheaply, enthusiastically assigning
me to Odion Bello as a principal Editor on the news
Desk Raypower 106.5 fm, an all news and talk station
with direct connection to BBC. 106.5 fm was soon
closed in response to a government directive to stop
direct rebroadcast from a foreign station in the
interest of the nation. We merged with 100.5fm as with
the mandate of reporting for the AIT as well. At Daar
which operated in a family spirit, I remember Kelly
Elisha, a father figure, Tony Akiotu, Odion Bello (Sam
B) Segun Okuselu, Winston Akpabio, Rev. Funke Alli,
Kolade Alabi, Gbenga Aruleba with big stick and loaves
of bread for everyone in the newsroom, Seun Olagunju
with her food basket and warmers for all to share,
Baba Temi Johnson, Paulyn Ugbodaga who still remains a
pal and Abdulhakeem Ishola, mychoice presenter when I
was tasked with producing An-Nur on TV and Super Sahur
in Ramadan. But I am most fulfilled in the brotherhood
of muslims in Daar Communications, planting a jumah
masjid in the premises for the benefit of staff and
the neighbours.
Spending just two years at Raypower and Ait both owned
by aar Cmmunications, I left for Broadcasting House
Ikoyi where the Voice of Nigeria VON is housed, at the
beginning of 2005 to enter the world of public service
broadcasting. The blood of AIT/Raypower still flows in
my veins, almost eight years after I left Alagbado.
I am most appreciative of Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa who
opened the VON window for me to join the News
Directorate of the Corporation as a senior news editor
as well as being his special assistant to expose me to
the critical assignments in public management and
leadership. I cannot thank enough all who welcomed me
to the VON family, tolerating my private sector
delusions and integrating me into the public service
system to start a new phase in my career: Former
Director Programme, Ayo Sulaiman, his successor, Dr.
Kabir Ahmed, Ben Egbuna, Executive Director News and
his successor, Frank Ilogu, ED, Engineering Timothy
Gyang, Sola Tijani, and Director Administration,
Margaret E. Obanya all who I directly relate with as
special assistant to DG who is based in the Abuja
Corporate headquarters while I am based in Lagos.
Participating in several top level and management
meetings and representing the DG in some critical
assignments within and outside Lagos, I came to
appreciate the pains and pressures of public office
holders in satisfying popular expectations without
compromising rules and procedures.
It's so vivid how in less than three years of joining
VON, I returned to school, fulfilling my long ambition
of pursuing a graduate studies programme. It came in a
grand way as I secured a university Brunei
Darussalam-Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
scholarship, travelling to, Bandar Seri Begawan, the
capital of the rich south east asian malay dominated
nation on the Borneo island overlooking the sea of
south china, Brunei Darussalam, which shares territory
with the Malaysian state of Sarawak, to study Public
Policy.
The Brunei experience was a defining moment in my
professional journalism and academic career. The
programme sharpened my analytical skills because of
the rigour and devotion with which the very excellent
lectures took the policy studies courses. For every
class assignment, I was always given the extra
instruction of introducing the Nigerian perspective.
While in Brunei I wrote so many commentaries on the
Nigerian polity, so many features on journalism
practice in Nigeria, and so many reflections on
governance from other parts of the world. I wrote on
Nigeria: The road to Darussalam, raising issues on how
peace can be achieved in Nigeria; I wrote
commemorating nigeria's 47th Independence Anniversary,
When Tomorrow Comes; I raised questions, Question for
our Servant leaders, on leadership ethics; I wrote on
lessons from Russia's Putin and malaysia's Mahathir; I
wrote on Metaphors of Kuru and its students looking at
the relevance of NIPSS on leadership training in
Nigeria; I wrote on 100,000 handshakes with the Sultan
of Brunei reminiscing on the celebraton of end of
Ramadan in the largely Muslim country; I wrote on the
disappointment I had not been able to interview the
sultan after making moves to book an appointment
through the the authorities in UBD; I wrote some
seminal essays on Poverty in the third world,
privatization and public management and I wrote on the
achievements of Voice of Nigeria in the outstanding
performances of some of its staff who sent in entries
to some broadcast awards. I featured in all Nigerian
newspapers while studying in Brunei reflecting the
peace and beauty of that rich south east asian nation
with malay, Chinese, Indian and other indigenous
population. I appeared in Daily Independent, The
Vanguard, Thisday, The Guardian,The Nation, Daily
Trust, Daily Champion,Daily Sun and The Punch. I
savour reliving my Concord days and replicating the
themes I had written in The National Guide and The
Monitor before in these newspapers. I even wrote on
the psychology of our editors in the CBA quarterly
magazine, the Broadcaster.
Returning from Brunei with a solid background in the
knowledge and application of policy analysis and
management tools, and a load of bye lines writing as
Voice of Nigeria's correspondent in the Asia pacific
region, I was tasked with bringing to fruition the VON
management vision on capacity building in the
corporation.
With the mandate, I landed at Ebute Ipakodo, ikorodu
lagos where the corporation sites its transmitting
station and established its training centre to become
a reference centre in Broadcast management and
technology training.
As we fully take off the VON Training Centre, I am
eternally grateful to all who motivated me in the
Director General office, Administration Department,
the Finance Department, the News Directorate, the
Programme Directorate and the Information Technology
Department to work towards attaining the vision for
which the Training Centre was established under the
management of Aremo Taiwo Allimi, who as the Director
General (1999-2004) redefined VON vision and mission
and made staff capacity building a major plank of his
reform agenda in VON.
From Sim Bewaran and Austin Ahaba, two very
intelligent guys with backgrounds in History and
psychology who work with me in Training Unit, to
Sussan Nwachukwu, a very resourceful lady with
outstanding academic credential in Political Science
working with the Director Administration, my
assignment in the Training Centre is lightened when
mandated to be in charge of VON Training Centre.
Alhamdulillah: it‘s been a rewarding experience in my
journey in journalism so far, from the News and
Editorial Desks of private and commercial newspaper
houses to the production and live studios of radio and
television Studios of the commercial and government /
public service broadcasting houses I have traversed in
the in the last 25 years and now in the lecture
theatres of the Voice of Nigeria Training Centre at
Ipakodo, Ebute, Ikorodu as a trainer-mentor in
development communication.
VTC will be a pride of Ipakodo as a virgin land in
Ikorodu waiting to etch itself on the world map of
capacity building for broadcasting and other media
professionals. Join me in Ipakodo, a serene, verdant
environment for an enriching experience in mass media
production, technology and management training. You
won't regret.
AbdulWarees Solanke, Head, Voice of Nigeria Training
Centre, c/o VON Transmitting Station, Ebute Ipakodo,
Ikorodu, Lagos studied Mass Communication at the
Univrsity of Lagos and Public Policy at the Universiti
Brunei Darusslam, writes via korewarith@yahoo.com,
korewarith@voiceofnigeria.org
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