BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

The glamour that attended last week’s public presentation of the book, Osoba: The Newspaper Years, written by the duo of Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe, was an  indicator of the quality of the subject of the book, Osoba, and journalism, which he represented.

Judging from the caliber of personalities drawn from all walks of life, particularly the media, politics,  diplomacy, business, religious and the civil society, in attendance, the high profile event became a moment for value test for journalism and journalists as moulders of comradeship, public conscience and national watchdog.

Held at the Shell Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan , Lagos, the event, which paraded representatives of President Goodluck Jonathan in the person of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Inter Party Relations, Senator Ben Obi, had also in attendance  three former Heads of State: General Ibrahim Babanginda, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of Commonwealth.

Besides the presence of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, who served as chief host,  the occasion, chaired by Chairman of Bullet Construction Company, Alhaji Ismail Isa Funtua, was also witnessed by former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gasua; former Governor of Lagos State,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande; and Governor of Ogun State,  Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

From left Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) former Head of States; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth; Former President Ibrahim Babangida; Professor Oladapo Afolabi, former Nigerian Head of Service and Prince John Momoh, Chairman, Channels Television at the book launch.

There were also media chieftains: Sam Amuka of Vanguard, Nduka Obiagbeni of Thisday, Doyin Abiola of rested Concord, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi of Daar Communications, John Momoh of Channels Television and Maiden Ibru of Guardian at the occasion.

Equally there were political and economic titans: Chief Molade Okoya, Chief Alex Akinleye, Chris Ogunbanjo, and representatives of governors of Anambra , Enugu, and Ondo states as well as representatives of the Senate President and Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Significantly, while the biographical account tries to assess the journalistic journey of Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a man who rose from a reporter to become one of the finest media managers and politicians in Nigeria, the book presentation provided a forum for people to have an inkling into the private life of a man, whose image, all the while, had been gauged through the public space.

Going by the revelations made by his friends, the audience got an insight into the life of the “journalist” which, contrary to what people believe, “ is not all about work without play.”

In his brief remarks at the occasion, Babangida, a long time friend of Osoba, described the host as not only a dedicated journalist and one of the finest and best that are produced in contemporary Nigerian journalism, but also “a woman’s man.”

The ascription of the term to the two-time governor of Ogun State was not meant to expose the human weaknesses  of the subject, but rather employed in good fate to shadow the kind of comradeship that existed among men of the pen profession and their friends in other spheres of life.

He added: “We know Osoba as a journalist, who has many stories to tell about issues in the country and challenges that we have been facing.”

The former military president went ahead to describe Osoba as a man with a” knack” for scoops, though “ he is not a coupist.”

Another thing that stood out from the shower of praises on Osoba on the occasion was the recognition of the import of mentorship.

Uduaghan noted that mentorship is the impulse that led the writers into the project, adding, however,  that he himself sees in Osoba “a father figure since he advises me in critical situations.”

The host acknowledged, as much, the import of mentorship, saying he was mentored by Alhaji Babatunde Jose.
And Osoba did not fail to show humility and respect to his former colleagues and elders in journalism that nurtured him to stardom.

“ There are still other people to recognize; Alhaji Lateef Jakande is one, researchers should go and piece together his documents for posterity. Sam Amuka is the oldest serving reporter at 77. He remains the only journalist in Nigeria that has founded two newspapers: Vanguard and The Punch. You guys should go and write about them”, he said.

While accolades were being poured on Osoba,  the writers of the book, Igwe and Awoyinfa, were not left out. Having done a lot of book projects together in the past including 50 Nigeria’s Corporate Strategist, Nigeria’s Marketing Memoirs and The Art of Featuring Writing, the reviewer of the book, John Momoh, described the duo’s latest effort as “ a work that falls within media biography and journalistic history.”

He explained that the book, @written from the  point of view of 22 people who encountered Osoba  during his journalism career”, captures the golden era of the Nigerian journalism.