BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN.
I was home in Ehallen Ewu, in Esan Central in Edo State, some few months back. I discover to my chagrin that seventy per cent of my childhood school mates were dead and those that I met looked much older than I did.
After a very deep reflection, I realised that the only difference between me and my school mates especially those still living, is the education that I was fortunate enough to have.
The importance of access to education for all cannot therefore be overemphasised.
Since I returned to Lagos my place of work, I have daily sucked and ruminate over the backwardness of my village. And I have continually asked myself without really finding an answer, how do I get together people who feel the way I do about the town, so that we could collectively help find ways of attracting development to the place?
Esan land for the benefit of Nigerians not to familiar with the place is regarded as the heart-beat of Edo State. It occupies a large expanse of land North of Benin city. Esan land has an area of approximately 3,000 kilometres and a population of about zero point eight million people as at 2001.
There are thirty five clans each of which is headed by a traditional ruler known as “Onojie”.
Western education was introduced to the place at the turn of the century and the first government controlled school was established at Ubiaja in 1904. Schools were established in Uromi another neighbouring clan in 1905, Ekpoma in 1906, Irrua, Opoji, Ewu and Agbede in subsequent years. Despite the proximity of these schools and the relative low school fees at that time, most parents could not afford the school fees require them.
Post-primary schools were opened after a long struggle in Esan Land. In 1942 the first teachers training college was established, that is John Bosco in Ubiaja. Followed by Ishan Grammar School in Uromi in 1948; Annunciation Catholic College in Irrua; Pilgrim Baptist College in Ewhohimi, and Anglican Grammar School in Ekpoma. These schools alongside others such as Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Grammar School in Uromi, Scared Heart Teachers Training College in Ubiaja opened the gate to Western Education in that part of Edo State. The Esan man crowning glory came with the establishment of the Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, by the late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Ali.
In spite of the proximity of these institutions, most Ishan parents could hardly send their wards to school, due to poverty. It been a long practice, that kids get withdrawn from school because parents can’t pay school fees; some become street kinds to make family ends meet. Some school age kids become road side motor mechanic apprentices and teenage traders at a time they should be fighting against illiteracy and preparing for the future. Tertiary institutions are seething. And yet, we want to enter the twenty-first century prepared to compete with the rest of the world.
Years later, the effect of lack of functional education, has become manifest in most Esan towns and villages. The backwardness in Ewu village in particular is worth mentioning.
As one worries about the plight of our people and what to do, to bring about a meaningful change in their lives, one is shocked to read in the Newspapers that the chieftaincy tussle which crated so much disaffection in Ewu land in the past and was considered settled with the court verdict in favour of the present Onojie His Royal Highness Jafaru Ojiefo Esesele II, is once again been reopened in another disguise. My worry therefore is, why have my people failed to realise that everything created by God has its destiny.
Past disagreement over this issue, did more harm than good in Ewu land, the ripple effect of the crisis is there for us all to see. While do we continue to engage in profitless crisis? Anyhow, while this matter was in court, government positions on the Onojie tussle were successfully challenged, hypocrisy by some groups on the matter exposed by the media, their arguments rejected by the courts of law, their repressive tactics resisted by some members of our community.
After years of calm the tide appeared to be turning against this group who meant little or no good for the Ewu people. Hence, the need for them to foment trouble afresh, but should this be allowed to continue? I say no.
The question therefore is, when will my people learn to do what is right and proper for themselves. Trouble at this particular time of our national development, will not help in any way to bring about the much require development in Ewu? I am of the belief, that “If we want to climb out of the hole we are in, it is a job for all the people”.
If Ewu must develop we collectively have a duty to perform, in ensuring accountability in our land.
We must serve as an early warning mechanism.
Act as a check to the excesses of some individual and their groups, government at local and state levels.
Hold whoever becomes our leader responsible for the attainment of agreed goals.
Be a vanguard for sustained fight for justice, fairness and equity.
Diversifier interests sufficiently in areas vital for economic, social and political development of our people, so as to get adequate and sustained attention.
Constantly remind those in government at the local government and state levels their obligations to people of Esan land.
Other areas worth devoting our efforts, if we must grow economically, are the enthronement of the rule of law, as one who had the privilege of watching our juridical system from within the court in the past years, I can say that the courts need the citizen’s keen interest in their effort to consolidate the rule of law and thwart what their detractors regard as the unacceptable face of judicial pronouncement.
The amelioration of poverty in Ewu land is possible if we create a structure that will help our people to have food and shelter alongside improving their economy. Poverty is spreading and does not seem to be prepared to take a flight back into its shell too soon. Food and shelter are becoming scarcer and less affordable. More families are making do with less food. The ranks of the homeless are increasing.
In the current dispensation, the pursuit of happiness is becoming a “battle royale” because the wherewithals for this endeavour are not available to may.
Experience has shown, that the much-touted improvement in the economy is seen more by statisticians and those who deal with figures without relating them to people’s experience.
In spite of this, we could, if we want to, help improve the welfare of our people. This can be done if we make concerted efforts to finance education in Esan land. And as a matter of priority return to values. The challenge of values is what sustained them in years past, this has given way to societal indiscipline: cultism, robbery, lack of consideration, disrespect is now the other of the day in our society. To cap it all, we are told our new politics and succession strategy should have no need for morals, as if leadership is only for the amoral.
The time has come for us to have a rethink. For us to achieve the above mentioned values, we must jettison the following
• Wealth without work.
• Pleasure without conscience.
• Knowledge without character.
• Commerce without morality.
• Science without humanity.
• Worship without sacrifice.
• Politics without principle.
His Highness Jafaru Ojeifo, Esesele II is an uncle to Prince Rasaki this relationship can not be wished away. Well, how long people think they can keep them apart for selfish gains or reasons are left for time to tell.
I believe that as long as our problems remain with us, we have no choice but to continue to re-visit them through analysis, new insight and unrelenting effort to find solutions. There is no viable alternative to either stop thinking them through or simply throwing up our hands in fruition. We cannot give up. Ewu my beloved place of birth can not move forward that way.
Gabriel Omonhinmin is with Voice of Nigeria.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
THE NIGERIA GUILD AND JOURNALISM FOR A NEW AGE
By Gabriel Omonhinmin.
Many years ago, I spent some time covering agriculture. I remember quite a few farmers getting eloquent and a bit emotional talking about the satisfaction they felt in watching the seeds they planted in the spring grow into a mature crop.
Trainers, writing coaches, editors and other newsroom mentors sometimes don’t get that kind of satisfaction. Some of the seeds we plant blossom elsewhere. Or we move on before they do. Or we didn’t even notice where they took root. We may never see or learn what became of our advice or example. Life gets busy for us and the people we help and they or we forget to stay in touch.
This is exactly the case with the founding editors of the Nigerian Guild. They have long stopped showing any interest in the affairs of the guild. This has not only rob the guild of good advice it is also affecting the quality of leadership of the organisation. That’s not how leadership and mentoring and coaching work should be.
Right from the inception of the guild, when our most respected Lateef Kayode Jakande, became its first President, the body then worked to promote fair, principled journalism, defend and protect the Nigerian Constitution, and fight for freedom of information and open government. Throughout this time, the Nigerian Guild members joined together to weather crises, seize opportunities and take action to improve their profession in service of the public good.
About forty-eight years after, the Nigerian Guild of Editors is at a turning point. Challenges to open government, the Freedom of Information Bill, and the principled journalism are stronger than ever. The need for citizen awareness is greater than ever. Digital journalism is creating a future that is far less predictable than ever. To confront these challenges successfully, the Guild must amplify its voice, enlarge its actions and equip its members as agents of change.
The Guild has a singular opportunity to accomplish these goals: “Journalism for a New Age”. On the third or fourth week of June, editors from across the country would gather in Lagos, Nigeria’s Commercial Capital to elect a new set of officers for the guild, as we prepare for this election, our profession journalism is wrestling with many other challenges, which include profit pressures, the rise of new information technologies, and, frankly, some bad journalism habits that have let our readers and listeners distrustful, at times, of our efforts.
The rise of new information technologies is prompting new questions, such as:
· “Who is a journalist?”
· “What is journalism?”
As we are all aware, ordinary citizens have began to participate in the gathering and delivering of news. In some cases they are watchdogging news organizations and reporting stories we got or done wrong. In other cases, they are reporting the news before journalists discover it. And they are also focusing on hyper-local community news that most newspapers and broadcast stations don’t have the resources to cover.
Meanwhile, bad journalism habits have given rise to such initiatives as civic journalism. Civic journalism aims to help return journalism to its core mission to give people the news and information they need to do their job as citizens.
Alexis de Tocqueville,the Frenchman who was a keen observer of American life, said some 170 years ago: “You can’t have real newspapers without democracy, and you can’t have democracy without newspapers.”
It’s no longer enough for journalists themselves to think they are doing a good job. Readers and listeners have to agree that a free press plays an essential role in our democratic society for journalists to merit their special place.
The goal of journalism for a New Age, is among other things, to produce news that citizens need to be educated about issues and current events, to make civic decisions, to engage in civic dialogue and action – and generally to exercise their responsibilities in a democracy.
It is the common belief, that, it is possible for journalists to create news coverage that motivates people to think, and even to act, and not simply entice them to watch, ogle or stare. And, in fact, they believe it’s journalists responsibility to do so.
For journalists to be taken seriously in our present day society the editor has a major role to play, editors are also expected to provide leadership. This is one of the reasons why we most all ensure that credible persons only are voted for in the forthcoming Guild of Editors elections in Lagos.
The leaders the guild needs now, are leaders who will help engender our media’s watchdog role. Leaders who will resolve not only to provide leadership but help in spotlighting corruption and injustice.
We need leaders who will not be part of government of the day at the Federal, State and Local Government Levels. The leadership the guild does not require at this particular point in time are leaders who have no other agenda than to pay courtesy call on officer holders.
The leadership the guild requires are leaders with an agenda, purposeful, clear headed, leaders that will help the Nigeria media, assume the role of a guide dog –that will help the Nigerian people figure out what kind of roles they could play in a democracy beyond simply casting a ballot.
We need leaders who will abandon the attack dog role that seemed to be just creating a lot of noise in a very noisy media environment like Nigeria.
The leader I would vote for at the guild elections, is a leader who would be able to answer convincingly, these ten questions that will help him or her make Good Ethical Decisions:-
a) What do I know? What do I need to know?
b) What is my journalistic purpose?
c) What are my ethical concerns?
d) What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider?
e) How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?
f) Who are the stakeholders—those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?
g) What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?
h) What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term?
i) What are my alternatives to maximize my truth telling responsibility and minimize harm?
j) Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?
We hope to have a credible leadership in the Guild later this month, that is, if the elections would hold.
Mr. Omonhinmin works for Voice of Nigeria
Many years ago, I spent some time covering agriculture. I remember quite a few farmers getting eloquent and a bit emotional talking about the satisfaction they felt in watching the seeds they planted in the spring grow into a mature crop.
Trainers, writing coaches, editors and other newsroom mentors sometimes don’t get that kind of satisfaction. Some of the seeds we plant blossom elsewhere. Or we move on before they do. Or we didn’t even notice where they took root. We may never see or learn what became of our advice or example. Life gets busy for us and the people we help and they or we forget to stay in touch.
This is exactly the case with the founding editors of the Nigerian Guild. They have long stopped showing any interest in the affairs of the guild. This has not only rob the guild of good advice it is also affecting the quality of leadership of the organisation. That’s not how leadership and mentoring and coaching work should be.
Right from the inception of the guild, when our most respected Lateef Kayode Jakande, became its first President, the body then worked to promote fair, principled journalism, defend and protect the Nigerian Constitution, and fight for freedom of information and open government. Throughout this time, the Nigerian Guild members joined together to weather crises, seize opportunities and take action to improve their profession in service of the public good.
About forty-eight years after, the Nigerian Guild of Editors is at a turning point. Challenges to open government, the Freedom of Information Bill, and the principled journalism are stronger than ever. The need for citizen awareness is greater than ever. Digital journalism is creating a future that is far less predictable than ever. To confront these challenges successfully, the Guild must amplify its voice, enlarge its actions and equip its members as agents of change.
The Guild has a singular opportunity to accomplish these goals: “Journalism for a New Age”. On the third or fourth week of June, editors from across the country would gather in Lagos, Nigeria’s Commercial Capital to elect a new set of officers for the guild, as we prepare for this election, our profession journalism is wrestling with many other challenges, which include profit pressures, the rise of new information technologies, and, frankly, some bad journalism habits that have let our readers and listeners distrustful, at times, of our efforts.
The rise of new information technologies is prompting new questions, such as:
· “Who is a journalist?”
· “What is journalism?”
As we are all aware, ordinary citizens have began to participate in the gathering and delivering of news. In some cases they are watchdogging news organizations and reporting stories we got or done wrong. In other cases, they are reporting the news before journalists discover it. And they are also focusing on hyper-local community news that most newspapers and broadcast stations don’t have the resources to cover.
Meanwhile, bad journalism habits have given rise to such initiatives as civic journalism. Civic journalism aims to help return journalism to its core mission to give people the news and information they need to do their job as citizens.
Alexis de Tocqueville,the Frenchman who was a keen observer of American life, said some 170 years ago: “You can’t have real newspapers without democracy, and you can’t have democracy without newspapers.”
It’s no longer enough for journalists themselves to think they are doing a good job. Readers and listeners have to agree that a free press plays an essential role in our democratic society for journalists to merit their special place.
The goal of journalism for a New Age, is among other things, to produce news that citizens need to be educated about issues and current events, to make civic decisions, to engage in civic dialogue and action – and generally to exercise their responsibilities in a democracy.
It is the common belief, that, it is possible for journalists to create news coverage that motivates people to think, and even to act, and not simply entice them to watch, ogle or stare. And, in fact, they believe it’s journalists responsibility to do so.
For journalists to be taken seriously in our present day society the editor has a major role to play, editors are also expected to provide leadership. This is one of the reasons why we most all ensure that credible persons only are voted for in the forthcoming Guild of Editors elections in Lagos.
The leaders the guild needs now, are leaders who will help engender our media’s watchdog role. Leaders who will resolve not only to provide leadership but help in spotlighting corruption and injustice.
We need leaders who will not be part of government of the day at the Federal, State and Local Government Levels. The leadership the guild does not require at this particular point in time are leaders who have no other agenda than to pay courtesy call on officer holders.
The leadership the guild requires are leaders with an agenda, purposeful, clear headed, leaders that will help the Nigeria media, assume the role of a guide dog –that will help the Nigerian people figure out what kind of roles they could play in a democracy beyond simply casting a ballot.
We need leaders who will abandon the attack dog role that seemed to be just creating a lot of noise in a very noisy media environment like Nigeria.
The leader I would vote for at the guild elections, is a leader who would be able to answer convincingly, these ten questions that will help him or her make Good Ethical Decisions:-
a) What do I know? What do I need to know?
b) What is my journalistic purpose?
c) What are my ethical concerns?
d) What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider?
e) How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?
f) Who are the stakeholders—those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?
g) What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?
h) What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term?
i) What are my alternatives to maximize my truth telling responsibility and minimize harm?
j) Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?
We hope to have a credible leadership in the Guild later this month, that is, if the elections would hold.
Mr. Omonhinmin works for Voice of Nigeria
THE SONNY OKOSUNS THAT I KNOW
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
ON Sunday, May 25, 2008 at exactly 11.15 a.m. at the residence of the late music maestro turned an evangelist, 92-year old Pa Duke Akaire Okosuns, was his usual ebullient self.
From the cheerful excitement on the face of Pa Okosuns it was obvious that he had not yet been informed about the death of the breadwinner in the Okosuns’ family.
I observed with keen interest as Baba, as he is fondly called, bubbled vigorously around his room.
At 92, Pa Okosuns can still do so many things, which people in his age group con not do. For instance, he still reads almost all the Nigerian Newspapers without the aid of any medicated eye glasses. He is also an ardent listener to news on the electronic media.
On that particular day, he was sitting quietly in a chair placed by the side of his large bed, reading one of the day’s papers. After some minutes of silence, the following dialogue ensued between two of us.
He asked “Who this is” And I replied, “Baba, it’s me Gabriel”.
Ooh! Is it you, How is your family? I replied, “Baba, we are all fine”.
He continued, your brother and friend has just gone back to the U.S. Did you see him during his brief stay in Lagos? I replied again, “Yes Baba, we met”.
Have you been able to reach him on phone, since he returned back to the U.S.? I replied this time in a subdued tone, “Yes Baba, as a matter of fact I spoke with him on phone, on Friday, May 23 at about 2 P.M Nigerian time”.
Baba said, “I hope he is O.K?” I just managed to nod my head and reply inaudibly.
We both again went in a long silence, while he now concentrated on his newspapers.
At this juncture, I quietly sneaked out of his room, saying to myself “how cruel life could at times be”.
Sonny was not just a brother; he was my friend and a very close confidant.
Since his long and protracted battle to stay alive, especially since he made his first trip to the U.S. for medical treatment, I had made it a habit to call him on phone every other day to ask about the state of his health and general wellbeing.
At times, during and after his operations, if he could not personally answer my call, his lovely wife Omono, who was always by his bed side, would pick up the phone and say “You brother is well”. She would then give me the exact time to call Sonny so that he could speak with me.
You can trust the undying spirit of Sonny, as soon as I called at the appointed time, he would receive the call and say almost in a whisper, “De Gabby, I am O.K. It is well”.
Sometimes in early April, he called me at about 5.30 a.m. Nigerian time, to inform me about his plan to visit Nigeria for the Easter celebrations.
On Monday, April 7th 2008, Charles Okosuns, called me very early in the morning of that day, to inform me that Sonny had arrived in Nigeria, and that he wanted us to meet in a hotel very close to his residence at Aguda-Ogba where he was having his rest.
At exactly 10 a.m. I joined Sonny in the said hotel. He was so excited to see me. Omono his wife, Charles his brother, Osegahale and John his children, were with us. As usual, I asked about his state of health, I could see that he had undergone several operations, but his legs were still swollen. Sonny sprang up from his bed, and brought out two sets of wrist watches. He said this is for you and your wife. I thanked him for the gift, while I was still quietly observing him closely, as if to convince me that he was well, He told Osegahale to get prepared as he was to take him to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to regularise his papers.
While still in the hotel room, he complained about a newspaper, which had reported that he was restricted to a wheel chair and could not eat. He was particularly bitter over the rumour which he said was making the rounds in his village, Ibore, in Esan Central of Edo State, alleging that he was no longer in a position to pay his medical bills. A statement he said was wicked, untrue and malicious.
During the conversation, he told me that the Edo State Governor, Senator (Professor) Oserheimen Osunbor, sent him the sum of three million Naira, as part of the state government contribution toward his treatment. While the immediate past Governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion, also sent him the sum of ten thousand U.S. dollars.
Even though Sonny was now walking in measured steps, we resolved that he visit the Editor of the Newspaper which carried the false story, at least if not for anything, just to prove that he was not on wheel chair. He also insisted that he would visit Ibore his village, to pray at his mother’s grave side.
While Sonny undertook his trip home, I began a two-week course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, (ASCON) in Topo Badagry. As it had become the habit, we spoke every other day.
Sunday, 27th April, 2008, was the last time I sat with Sonny for two hours in his bedroom at his home in Aguda-Ogba, Ikeja. On that day he looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “De Gabby, take this Bible; you need it for your spiritual guide. It was a Life Recovery Bible – New Living Translation. After the presentation he managed to nib at the plate of rice brought to him by his wife Omono. While he ate the food, he complained generally about the shoddy manner Nigeria treats her heroes. He asked from me, what is the essence of the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N.) bestowed on him, when the Nigerian government could not come to his assistance at his most trying period. He said several efforts to reach the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who had always been a good friend, was frustrated by some of his personal aides. At this juncture, He said “I wish my country Nigeria well; I, Sonny Okosuns have played my part very well in uplifting the image of this country. He concluded, I am an “African Soldier” like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahamadu Bello just to mention a few”.
Justifying his target of being an African Soldier, he said, “I have had a command performance in my musical carrier that spanned thirty five years on stage for about twenty eight Heads of States and Government in Africa. I have performed with International Artistes such as Toots and the Matals, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Little Richard and Harry Belafonte just to mention a few”. He concluded by saying, “Music has been fair to me, as I have travelled the entire world, playing music”.
Yes indeed, Sonny made his mark in music, in those very eventful years of his musical career, he released three singles albums entitled “Ohomi/Sound of the Forest, God of Abraham/Rice and Beans and Help Don’t Cry.” These were the musical albums that kick-started his musical fame. Other multiple albums like O’Jesu, Riots, Ozidizm, Living Music, Ozzidi For Sale, Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, Holy Wars, Power to the People, and Give Peace A Chance, gave my brother and a friend, the international exposure.
Albums like Song of Praise 1 and 11, Great Change, Revival, Glory of God, Save our Soul, Great Story and The Crown, showed that the Fire of God was still burning in him.
Sonny produced great artistes like Onyeka Onwenu – Endless Life, Yvonne Maha’s – Child For Sale, Charly Akaa’s – Poor Charlie and Chuks Ejelonu’s – Let Make a Memory.
On Friday, May 23rd 2008, when I last had a telephone conversation with my brother and friend in the U.S., there was nothing in his voice to betray that he was matching home to meet the Lord. “De Gabby” he said on the other side of the phone, “have you forgotten me so soon?” I said no! And I asked why he asked such question? He said “you were very late in calling me”. Immediately I apologised for not calling him for some days.
On Sunday May 25th 2008 morning, at exactly 5.30 a.m. I put a call through to the U.S. the two lines of Sunny rang several time, no reply. I again tried, at the other end, Sonny’s wife Omono voice came across. I asked Omono “how is Sonny doing, is he well?” Omono calmly said “It is not well”. Then it dawned on me that he had finally lost the long and torturous battle to stay alive.
Sonny rest in perfect peace until we meet to part no more. You were truly an “African Soldier”.
ON Sunday, May 25, 2008 at exactly 11.15 a.m. at the residence of the late music maestro turned an evangelist, 92-year old Pa Duke Akaire Okosuns, was his usual ebullient self.
From the cheerful excitement on the face of Pa Okosuns it was obvious that he had not yet been informed about the death of the breadwinner in the Okosuns’ family.
I observed with keen interest as Baba, as he is fondly called, bubbled vigorously around his room.
At 92, Pa Okosuns can still do so many things, which people in his age group con not do. For instance, he still reads almost all the Nigerian Newspapers without the aid of any medicated eye glasses. He is also an ardent listener to news on the electronic media.
On that particular day, he was sitting quietly in a chair placed by the side of his large bed, reading one of the day’s papers. After some minutes of silence, the following dialogue ensued between two of us.
He asked “Who this is” And I replied, “Baba, it’s me Gabriel”.
Ooh! Is it you, How is your family? I replied, “Baba, we are all fine”.
He continued, your brother and friend has just gone back to the U.S. Did you see him during his brief stay in Lagos? I replied again, “Yes Baba, we met”.
Have you been able to reach him on phone, since he returned back to the U.S.? I replied this time in a subdued tone, “Yes Baba, as a matter of fact I spoke with him on phone, on Friday, May 23 at about 2 P.M Nigerian time”.
Baba said, “I hope he is O.K?” I just managed to nod my head and reply inaudibly.
We both again went in a long silence, while he now concentrated on his newspapers.
At this juncture, I quietly sneaked out of his room, saying to myself “how cruel life could at times be”.
Sonny was not just a brother; he was my friend and a very close confidant.
Since his long and protracted battle to stay alive, especially since he made his first trip to the U.S. for medical treatment, I had made it a habit to call him on phone every other day to ask about the state of his health and general wellbeing.
At times, during and after his operations, if he could not personally answer my call, his lovely wife Omono, who was always by his bed side, would pick up the phone and say “You brother is well”. She would then give me the exact time to call Sonny so that he could speak with me.
You can trust the undying spirit of Sonny, as soon as I called at the appointed time, he would receive the call and say almost in a whisper, “De Gabby, I am O.K. It is well”.
Sometimes in early April, he called me at about 5.30 a.m. Nigerian time, to inform me about his plan to visit Nigeria for the Easter celebrations.
On Monday, April 7th 2008, Charles Okosuns, called me very early in the morning of that day, to inform me that Sonny had arrived in Nigeria, and that he wanted us to meet in a hotel very close to his residence at Aguda-Ogba where he was having his rest.
At exactly 10 a.m. I joined Sonny in the said hotel. He was so excited to see me. Omono his wife, Charles his brother, Osegahale and John his children, were with us. As usual, I asked about his state of health, I could see that he had undergone several operations, but his legs were still swollen. Sonny sprang up from his bed, and brought out two sets of wrist watches. He said this is for you and your wife. I thanked him for the gift, while I was still quietly observing him closely, as if to convince me that he was well, He told Osegahale to get prepared as he was to take him to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to regularise his papers.
While still in the hotel room, he complained about a newspaper, which had reported that he was restricted to a wheel chair and could not eat. He was particularly bitter over the rumour which he said was making the rounds in his village, Ibore, in Esan Central of Edo State, alleging that he was no longer in a position to pay his medical bills. A statement he said was wicked, untrue and malicious.
During the conversation, he told me that the Edo State Governor, Senator (Professor) Oserheimen Osunbor, sent him the sum of three million Naira, as part of the state government contribution toward his treatment. While the immediate past Governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion, also sent him the sum of ten thousand U.S. dollars.
Even though Sonny was now walking in measured steps, we resolved that he visit the Editor of the Newspaper which carried the false story, at least if not for anything, just to prove that he was not on wheel chair. He also insisted that he would visit Ibore his village, to pray at his mother’s grave side.
While Sonny undertook his trip home, I began a two-week course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, (ASCON) in Topo Badagry. As it had become the habit, we spoke every other day.
Sunday, 27th April, 2008, was the last time I sat with Sonny for two hours in his bedroom at his home in Aguda-Ogba, Ikeja. On that day he looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “De Gabby, take this Bible; you need it for your spiritual guide. It was a Life Recovery Bible – New Living Translation. After the presentation he managed to nib at the plate of rice brought to him by his wife Omono. While he ate the food, he complained generally about the shoddy manner Nigeria treats her heroes. He asked from me, what is the essence of the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N.) bestowed on him, when the Nigerian government could not come to his assistance at his most trying period. He said several efforts to reach the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who had always been a good friend, was frustrated by some of his personal aides. At this juncture, He said “I wish my country Nigeria well; I, Sonny Okosuns have played my part very well in uplifting the image of this country. He concluded, I am an “African Soldier” like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahamadu Bello just to mention a few”.
Justifying his target of being an African Soldier, he said, “I have had a command performance in my musical carrier that spanned thirty five years on stage for about twenty eight Heads of States and Government in Africa. I have performed with International Artistes such as Toots and the Matals, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Little Richard and Harry Belafonte just to mention a few”. He concluded by saying, “Music has been fair to me, as I have travelled the entire world, playing music”.
Yes indeed, Sonny made his mark in music, in those very eventful years of his musical career, he released three singles albums entitled “Ohomi/Sound of the Forest, God of Abraham/Rice and Beans and Help Don’t Cry.” These were the musical albums that kick-started his musical fame. Other multiple albums like O’Jesu, Riots, Ozidizm, Living Music, Ozzidi For Sale, Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, Holy Wars, Power to the People, and Give Peace A Chance, gave my brother and a friend, the international exposure.
Albums like Song of Praise 1 and 11, Great Change, Revival, Glory of God, Save our Soul, Great Story and The Crown, showed that the Fire of God was still burning in him.
Sonny produced great artistes like Onyeka Onwenu – Endless Life, Yvonne Maha’s – Child For Sale, Charly Akaa’s – Poor Charlie and Chuks Ejelonu’s – Let Make a Memory.
On Friday, May 23rd 2008, when I last had a telephone conversation with my brother and friend in the U.S., there was nothing in his voice to betray that he was matching home to meet the Lord. “De Gabby” he said on the other side of the phone, “have you forgotten me so soon?” I said no! And I asked why he asked such question? He said “you were very late in calling me”. Immediately I apologised for not calling him for some days.
On Sunday May 25th 2008 morning, at exactly 5.30 a.m. I put a call through to the U.S. the two lines of Sunny rang several time, no reply. I again tried, at the other end, Sonny’s wife Omono voice came across. I asked Omono “how is Sonny doing, is he well?” Omono calmly said “It is not well”. Then it dawned on me that he had finally lost the long and torturous battle to stay alive.
Sonny rest in perfect peace until we meet to part no more. You were truly an “African Soldier”.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS IN A PENALTY BOK
THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS IN A PENALTY BOX
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
The biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors which took place on July 28, 2008 in Lagos has come and gone. The ripple effect of the election of new members of the Standing Committee would for a long time to come reverberate in the country’s media circle.
The Guild since its inception in the 60’s has suffered three deaths. The present crises of leadership bedevilling the body could have been avoided if not for the regrettable act of indiscretion on the part of some individual members whose reputation could be better described as a mixture of sawdust and sand. These persons have suddenly assumed position of “god-mothers among other things” in the guild, thus playing the unenviable role of an “Adedibu” in a body made up of the finest minds in the country’s media.
The action of these very negligible members of the guild, unfortunately, has boxed it into a penalty spot. The penalty kicks that would be taken by the Gbenga Adefaye’s executive in days or months to come will no doubt determine whether or not the Nigerian Guild of Editors would be able to move back on to the field of play as one indivisible body.
Since the conclusion of the election, I have read with great amusement comments, opinions and editorials about matters arising from the biennial conference. My point however is that most of these articles failed to address the crux of the matter which is the outright violation of the Guild’s constitution. I am also of the belief that we cannot justify freedom of the press by assertion but only by day-to-day demonstration of integrity in whatever we do.
Messes Adefaye and Akiotu are gentlemen and good journalists. The election of any of the two candidates would ordinarily not have brought about any rancour if the proper thing was done. The present disagreement in the Guild is neither the making of Akiotu nor Adefaye. The crisis was contrived by just four persons who believe that they are now the only people in a position to dictate the future of the guild which they have been using to feather their own nests. To them any opposition must not be tolerated, as this will dislodge them from continuing to hold on to the liver of power in the guild. It is to this style of leadership we on the opposing side say no. Courage to challenge evil is one crucial element lacking in the way and manner journalists conduct their own affairs in Nigeria. This attitude is what has brought the Nigerian Union of Journalists to its knees and made the union almost irrelevant at the national level.
Campaign, for instance, is connected with a set of actions intended to obtain a particular result, especially in politics or business. If the immediate past executive of the guild was not interested in attracting new entrants into the guild, one wonder what was the reason(s) or rationale for calling on contestants in the just concluded election to cris-cross the country campaigning for votes and appealing to qualified persons to register with the body. Why did the guild not say abinito that people registering with it would not be allowed to vote in the biannual conference? Is it proper morally and in law, to collect the money of prospective members and deny such a person the right to participate fully in the activities of the guild where they are expected to be legitimate members?
Before the Lagos biannual conference this has never been the rule. Why explore the weakness of the constitution of the guild to set a very dangerous precedent?
Such conduct if allowed to go un-challenged would later become the norm. This is unhealthy and would do the guild more harm than good. We have seen life-long relationships destroyed with unrealistic expectations, infidelity and broken promises. Our question therefore is: if Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Ugochukwu Onyema and few other decent elements who have been privileged to hold the presidency of the guild had behaved the way and manner some individuals are presently conducting themselves, would the guild before now, not have long broken up?
This crisis contrary to the speculation by some funny individuals is not at all a fight between electronic and print media editors. Electronic media for instance, does not only mean radio and television, it refers to any media providing electronic, interactive communications, such as the internet, online services, and/or electronic and communication networks, including telephone. From all indications this sector of the media cannot but attract the very best. According to the late Dele Giwa, any serious –minded journalist must be a university graduate, a good thinker and a man or woman who has a way with words. These calibres of persons abound in both the electronic and print media. Our resolve to free the guild from the stronghold of some individuals who failed to realise that power should always be used with wisdom is also not based on ethnic or any other primitive sentiments or consideration. We have as a matter of principle resolved not to stand akimbo and laugh while Gbenga Adefaye is going to be held hostage by some idle minded persons who do not believe in making any meaningful contribution to the advancement of the guild. Their sole interest as has always been is to explore the guild for their own selfish interests. This can no longer be allowed.
The Adefaye led executive as presently constituted, in the exception of one or two persons is made up of some men and women who were planted in the executive by these same interest groups. Will anything good come out of this calibre of persons? Let,s wait and see.
I must put on record that no right thinking editor or journalist would be interested in the death of the guild this time around. Our only concern is for things to be done properly.
For instance, why would a man be denied the right to hold any position in a body like the guild because he is seen to be a very principled person. Mr. Akiotu is said to be disliked because he is regarded “as a maverick, too independent to be relied on, not a joiner”.
What were the reason(s) for the sudden phobia about the guild’s biennial General Meeting, in the just concluded Lagos Conference? In December 2003, when Remi Oyo was to rubber stamp Baba Dantiye as President of the guild, they had no problem holding a biennial general meeting.
Another question begging for answer is who appointed Mr. Bonnie Iwouha as the Chairman, Convention Planning Committee of the Lagos Biennial Conference?
I must be quick to point out, that this minor disagreement is not personal. Rather all we want is for things at the guild level to be done with some sense of decorum and decency.
As a matter of urgency, the guild’s constitution must be re-worked to foreclose the loopholes that have just been recently exploited by the immediate past president of the guild. All past executive members of the guild should henceforth be allowed to contest any office if they so desire. It should no longer be the exclusive right of members of the standing committee only to aspire to such offices as presently contained in the guild constitution. The gate for the presidency of the body should be thrown open to allow quality persons who have proven track records as editors. This is the only way to prevent the inept leadership which have for some time now been the lot of the guild.
Healing we all know is a process, not an event. Wounds of the heart heal slowly. We all know how people protect an injured limb against knocks and bumps. It is a natural instinctive reaction. The fact is that the one who caused the pain may be ready for business as usual but for the injured, he or she takes his time.
Common sense has however shown that when one violates his partner’s trust, you send your ‘relationship account’ into deficit! Intimacy is replaced by painful emotional and physical distance. As the offender, it is your responsibility to show repentance. Once this is done, one must be seen to be making genuine reconciliatory moves, as it is only through this process the present crises in the guild can be resolve.
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
The biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors which took place on July 28, 2008 in Lagos has come and gone. The ripple effect of the election of new members of the Standing Committee would for a long time to come reverberate in the country’s media circle.
The Guild since its inception in the 60’s has suffered three deaths. The present crises of leadership bedevilling the body could have been avoided if not for the regrettable act of indiscretion on the part of some individual members whose reputation could be better described as a mixture of sawdust and sand. These persons have suddenly assumed position of “god-mothers among other things” in the guild, thus playing the unenviable role of an “Adedibu” in a body made up of the finest minds in the country’s media.
The action of these very negligible members of the guild, unfortunately, has boxed it into a penalty spot. The penalty kicks that would be taken by the Gbenga Adefaye’s executive in days or months to come will no doubt determine whether or not the Nigerian Guild of Editors would be able to move back on to the field of play as one indivisible body.
Since the conclusion of the election, I have read with great amusement comments, opinions and editorials about matters arising from the biennial conference. My point however is that most of these articles failed to address the crux of the matter which is the outright violation of the Guild’s constitution. I am also of the belief that we cannot justify freedom of the press by assertion but only by day-to-day demonstration of integrity in whatever we do.
Messes Adefaye and Akiotu are gentlemen and good journalists. The election of any of the two candidates would ordinarily not have brought about any rancour if the proper thing was done. The present disagreement in the Guild is neither the making of Akiotu nor Adefaye. The crisis was contrived by just four persons who believe that they are now the only people in a position to dictate the future of the guild which they have been using to feather their own nests. To them any opposition must not be tolerated, as this will dislodge them from continuing to hold on to the liver of power in the guild. It is to this style of leadership we on the opposing side say no. Courage to challenge evil is one crucial element lacking in the way and manner journalists conduct their own affairs in Nigeria. This attitude is what has brought the Nigerian Union of Journalists to its knees and made the union almost irrelevant at the national level.
Campaign, for instance, is connected with a set of actions intended to obtain a particular result, especially in politics or business. If the immediate past executive of the guild was not interested in attracting new entrants into the guild, one wonder what was the reason(s) or rationale for calling on contestants in the just concluded election to cris-cross the country campaigning for votes and appealing to qualified persons to register with the body. Why did the guild not say abinito that people registering with it would not be allowed to vote in the biannual conference? Is it proper morally and in law, to collect the money of prospective members and deny such a person the right to participate fully in the activities of the guild where they are expected to be legitimate members?
Before the Lagos biannual conference this has never been the rule. Why explore the weakness of the constitution of the guild to set a very dangerous precedent?
Such conduct if allowed to go un-challenged would later become the norm. This is unhealthy and would do the guild more harm than good. We have seen life-long relationships destroyed with unrealistic expectations, infidelity and broken promises. Our question therefore is: if Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Ugochukwu Onyema and few other decent elements who have been privileged to hold the presidency of the guild had behaved the way and manner some individuals are presently conducting themselves, would the guild before now, not have long broken up?
This crisis contrary to the speculation by some funny individuals is not at all a fight between electronic and print media editors. Electronic media for instance, does not only mean radio and television, it refers to any media providing electronic, interactive communications, such as the internet, online services, and/or electronic and communication networks, including telephone. From all indications this sector of the media cannot but attract the very best. According to the late Dele Giwa, any serious –minded journalist must be a university graduate, a good thinker and a man or woman who has a way with words. These calibres of persons abound in both the electronic and print media. Our resolve to free the guild from the stronghold of some individuals who failed to realise that power should always be used with wisdom is also not based on ethnic or any other primitive sentiments or consideration. We have as a matter of principle resolved not to stand akimbo and laugh while Gbenga Adefaye is going to be held hostage by some idle minded persons who do not believe in making any meaningful contribution to the advancement of the guild. Their sole interest as has always been is to explore the guild for their own selfish interests. This can no longer be allowed.
The Adefaye led executive as presently constituted, in the exception of one or two persons is made up of some men and women who were planted in the executive by these same interest groups. Will anything good come out of this calibre of persons? Let,s wait and see.
I must put on record that no right thinking editor or journalist would be interested in the death of the guild this time around. Our only concern is for things to be done properly.
For instance, why would a man be denied the right to hold any position in a body like the guild because he is seen to be a very principled person. Mr. Akiotu is said to be disliked because he is regarded “as a maverick, too independent to be relied on, not a joiner”.
What were the reason(s) for the sudden phobia about the guild’s biennial General Meeting, in the just concluded Lagos Conference? In December 2003, when Remi Oyo was to rubber stamp Baba Dantiye as President of the guild, they had no problem holding a biennial general meeting.
Another question begging for answer is who appointed Mr. Bonnie Iwouha as the Chairman, Convention Planning Committee of the Lagos Biennial Conference?
I must be quick to point out, that this minor disagreement is not personal. Rather all we want is for things at the guild level to be done with some sense of decorum and decency.
As a matter of urgency, the guild’s constitution must be re-worked to foreclose the loopholes that have just been recently exploited by the immediate past president of the guild. All past executive members of the guild should henceforth be allowed to contest any office if they so desire. It should no longer be the exclusive right of members of the standing committee only to aspire to such offices as presently contained in the guild constitution. The gate for the presidency of the body should be thrown open to allow quality persons who have proven track records as editors. This is the only way to prevent the inept leadership which have for some time now been the lot of the guild.
Healing we all know is a process, not an event. Wounds of the heart heal slowly. We all know how people protect an injured limb against knocks and bumps. It is a natural instinctive reaction. The fact is that the one who caused the pain may be ready for business as usual but for the injured, he or she takes his time.
Common sense has however shown that when one violates his partner’s trust, you send your ‘relationship account’ into deficit! Intimacy is replaced by painful emotional and physical distance. As the offender, it is your responsibility to show repentance. Once this is done, one must be seen to be making genuine reconciliatory moves, as it is only through this process the present crises in the guild can be resolve.
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