Eminent Nigerians gathered at the Shell Hall, Muson on Thursday to celebrate with the former Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria and former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, on the occasion of his 70th birthday and presentation of his biography.
The biography title Osoba: The Newspapers Years, was written by two journalists, Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe
Former Military Head of states, Ibrahim Babangida described the veteran journalist as one who would “always attempt the extraordinary to break new ground to stand him out in a profession that he loved so much.”
The Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun described Mr Osoba as an accomplished journalist and administrator.
The governor said that Mr Osoba’s life had motivated aspiring and practising journalists and politicians.
‘‘Chief Osoba is a reference point when we say Ogun State indigenes are exemplary in various disciplines. There is no better honour for him than committing his exploits as a journalist into indelible print.
Having served as a two-term governor of Ogun, he remains active in the development of the state and the country.”
The Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, said that Mr Osoba is a mentor of reporters.
Mr Uduaghan said, “We are not just celebrating Osoba here today. We are also celebrating journalism. I am here today because I believe in the concept of mentoring. I want to appeal to everybody here to go back to the tradition of mentoring.
“Osoba was mentored by Alhaji Babatunde Jose, and he in turn mentored a lot of other people. It would be a great thing if other journalists practise mentoring.”
The book reviewer and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, John Momoh, said the 396-page book painted Osoba’s excellence and the intrigues of the “golden era of journalism.”
He added that the 22 personalities interviewed in the book to tell the story of Osoba’s years as a journalist made the book a unique compilation.
“The book is unarguably the best book ever written about Osoba yet. But perhaps, the authors could have spoken to a couple of people who are not really his fans,” Mr Momoh said
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Inter-party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, described Mr Osoba as “a friendly member of the opposition” and a man who was worthy of celebration.
The gathering honoured the memory of people whom the former Daily Times of Nigeria managing director said affected his life. The dignitaries stood up and held a minute silence in honour of Late Chief Alex Ibru, Mr. Peter Ajayi, Prof. Femi Sonaike and Alhaji Babatunde Jose.
Mr Osoba said, “During my years as a journalist, it was the reporter in me that kept driving me to do the job as best as I could.
“But there are a lot of people alive today who were better journalists than I was; People like Chief Lateef Jakande and Mr. Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard. They all deserve to be honoured as well.”
He said other persons that had positive impact on his career included Generals Emmanual Abisoye, Abdulsalaam Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Bola Tinubu.
One of the authors of the book, Mr Awoyinfa said the book was borne out of the desire to preserve the legacy of a great generation of journalists.
“The book is not just about Osoba. It is equally the biography of those individuals mentioned in it,” he said.
The event attracted other dignitaries from across the country and beyond among whom are Ernest Shonekan, Emeka Anyaoku, Bolaji Akinyemi; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; former Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Ajibola Ogunshola; and Oba Otudeko.
