By Mayowa Adetiba

A couple of weeks ago, Chief Areoye Oyebola, a former Editor of Daily Times, gave yet again, his account of the event that led to what some veteran journalists described as the day of the long knives in Daily Times. The knives that came out that day made many people to become severely wounded, and the organisation itself eventually crippled. It was the day one coup toppled the government of Nigeria and another ‘coup’ changed the editorial management of Daily Times.

It was one account too many. I have read, not for the first time, his version of the event. I have read Chief Segun Osoba’s version. I have read Alhaji Babatunde Jose’s version. After almost 40 years, I think its time for Chief Areoye Oyebola to finally let go and forgive the wrong… if indeed, he was wronged.

I say this because we have all been wronged, deeply wronged at times, in relationships- both professionally and personally.

At the height of the Punch crisis which almost brought the newspaper to its knees, some of my colleagues felt the ousted Managing Director had over favoured me and now, without a god father, it was time to put me in my place. I felt some stab wounds then. One or two of them lived with me at the Punch quarters and I almost screamed ‘e tu Brute’ to them. *Some back stabs were also inflicted at the Vanguard by a colleague and friend.

But the unkindest cuts were from friends and business associates at the Prime People where I was dispossessed of a company I promoted. Today, there is not one person alive among the actors that I am not on talking terms with. When people ask me about Prime People, I tell them the truth which is that mistakes were made and lessons were learnt.

In other words, in the instances I mentioned, I was not all saintly, and they all devilish because events are never that black and white.They say time heals wounds because time allows introspection. I have enjoyed the intervention of time. Chief Oyebola should do the same.

A little introspection on his part should show that he could not have been the only wronged person in that unfortunate development.

I interviewed Alhaji Jose shortly after he was removed from the Daily Times. I had interviewed him before when he was at the zenith of his power as the Chairman/CEO of Daily Times. The booming voice was still there, but this time, it was tinged with bitterness as he gave his account of what happened on the day Gowon was toppled. I still remember his answer as if it was yesterday, when I asked about the dictatorial charges against him. His voice rose an octave as he said, ‘You can’t run an organisation like the Daily Times on Presbyterian democracy’. (I remember so vividly because I had to look up that word).

Alhaji Jose couldn’t but be bitter because some of the people that got him out of the Times were among his favourites. Many of them were intelligent, articulate and smart. They were the pride of Daily Times. And they were mainly his boys. The power they had, the extensive network they enjoyed, were cultivated largely through his watch. He gave them latitude. He nurtured their flair. Yet in a moment of pique, they started a chain of actions that led to his ouster and death of a very virile organisation.

The loss of Daily Times was not Jose’s loss alone. It was the nation’s loss as well. Daily Times of the 60s and 70s was a breeding ground for the best and brightest of Nigerian journalism. It was a robust but responsible organisation with tittles touching every aspect of our national lives. The Daily Times was feared— and respected.

How does Chief Oyebola feel about the fact that the ‘protest’ which he started, and which he glossed over in his Punch interview, probably led to the eventual death of the Daily Times as a credible voice of the people? Even as an organisation? A place that directly and indirectly provided jobs for thousands of people at the time.

Fortunately, Alhaji Jose was cleared of most of the allegations against him and no stain or blemish clung to him. He ran one of the most successful businesses in Nigeria at the time yet he never cultivated an opulent life style. He did not, as events proved, corruptly enrich himself. In fact, many of the subsequent managing directors of Daily Times made more money from the organisation than Jose did. When he was removed and Daily Times acquired by the military government of the day, the process that led to the demise of the most powerful voice in Africa had begun.

Years later, Ahaji jose sent for me on something private. It turned out to be a lazy afternoon for both us. So I tarried a bit to learn through his reminisces. His comments on management, trouble shooting within establishments and decision making were insightful. It was on that day he told me the reason behind moving Daily Times to Agidingbi. I could not but salute his foresight. I then asked him the inevitable question.

How did he feel that the once proud, virile organisation he helped to build had been made prostrate through years of mismanagement, ineptitude and theft? His answer was calm and philosophical. And yes….devoid of bitterness. That was when I knew Alhaji Babatunde Jose had let go. It is time Chief Areoye Oyebola, a self confessed Christian of many years, did the same. He is a man I respect.