My ancestors and antecedents in the media office, by Femi Adesina

By Femi Adesina; My Ancestors and ancestors in the media office

I’m standing here outside your entrance

I regret having to wake you to say farewell…

But farewell we must say. Permit me to honor all those who have served in the office I’ve held for the past eight years. They also faithfully served their superiors, just as I have endeavored to do. I had previously written about them, both living and deceased, but today I present an updated version.

Life is but a shadow on the ground. A poor performer who poses and frets for an hour on stage but is never heard again. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare wrote, “It is a story told by a fool, full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.” That is our nature and identity. There are migratory birds here, but no continuing city. However, we desire one who is to come. That is, if we possess a minimum of common sense.

Since 1976, the board lists the names and photographs of all those who have served as image makers to the nation’s chiefs of state. First is Ogbuefi (later Igwe) Alex Nwokedi, who served as military chief of state under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo from 1976 to 1979. Later, he was promoted to Manager, Group Public Affairs at Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and then to Igwe of Achalla in Anambra State. We were in contact for many years, but I am saddened to inform you that he passed away in May of 2020. Igwe Nwokedi lived well and passed away well at the age of 84.

Mr. Charles Igoh, who served Alhaji Shehu Shagari from 1979 to September 1983, is next on the list. Mallam Abba Dabo, who served the same President during his second term from October to December 1983, succeeded him. The military intervened and shortened the term.

However, regardless of length, Mallam Dabo is among the pantheon of individuals who have served as image creators for presidents of this country. That is the past for you. It documents everything, both positive and negative.

Mallam Wada Maida.

My gentleman senior acquaintance. We both adore Muhammadu Buhari, and he served as Chief Press Secretary between January 1984 and August 1985, when our leader was military head of state. Sadly, he died in August 2020 without ever having been unwell. He was always pleasant, serene, and smiling.

Then arrives the individual known as Double Chief. Duro Onabule served for eight years under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He holds the distinction of having the oldest tenure in the position to date. He passed away in August of last year at the age of 83.

Chief Onabule was my oldest and most influential companion. Since I was a young child, I had the honor of serving as the editor of National Concord, a position he had held decades earlier. He wrote a weekly column for the local publication. When I became the founding editor of Daily Sun in 2003, I was delighted to invite him back as a columnist, a position he held until his passing. You cannot fathom the strength I derived from Onabule’s private messages to me during times of government turmoil.

Unchanged on the board. Next is Sola Atere, an additional senior colleague and friend. Between January and August of 1993, he was a part of the transitional government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Our Brother! This is how I refer to the next fellow. Emma Agu, former editor of Champion Newspaper, is the Interim National Government’s Chief Press Secretary, alongside Chief Shonekan. The term lasted only 84 days, but Agu, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, is also recorded in the annals of history.

Also now deceased, Chief David Attah served General Sani Abacha for five years. A few years ago, I was also responsible for writing his obituary. This task!

Mallam Mohammed Haruna, who is alive and well to the honor of God, served with General Abdulsalami Abubakar for roughly a year. He is now a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Between 1999 and 2007, three individuals served with President Olusegun Obasanjo. The deceased Dr. Doyin Okupe, Mr. Tunji Oseni, and Mrs. Oluremi Oyo.

The following three individuals are my contemporaries. We attended university at the same time, share the same age range, and worked as journalists in Lagos for decades concurrently. We are pals. Dr. Reuben Abati served President Umaru Yar’Adua for four years, while Dr. Olusegun Adeniyi served President Umaru Yar’Adua for three years.

What will be the next entry on the board? Femi Adesina, 2015-2023. As previously stated, the image is complete, with the duration of service indicated. To the glory of God alone. He renders everything feasible.

Shakespeare wrote that there are always entrances and exits, and whenever I viewed that board over the past eight years, I was reminded of this fact. The Yorubas speak of a man who inherited a potent talisman and is now seeking immortality. The original proprietor would not have perished if the charm were so potent. We have our entrances and exits. God willing, I look forward to mine in 38 days.

I spent years as a journalist scouring the streets for news to report. In 1995, I was promoted to the position of Features Editor at National Concord. It was the first time I had a private office outside of the Newsroom. What was my initial action upon entering that office? I prayed, entrusting my stay as well as my departure to God and requesting that it be under magnificent conditions. And I’ve done so in every office I’ve occupied since. I have served as the Deputy Editor of the National Concord, the Editor of the same publication, the Editor of the Daily Sun, the Executive Director of Publications for The Sun Newspapers, the Deputy Managing Director, and finally the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief. Since 2015, I have also served as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and as the President’s Special Adviser for Media and Publicity. On my very first day in my current position, I entrusted the final day to God. The final day has now arrived. Even life does not last eternally.

Those who served before me all achieved success in their own unique methods, regardless of what people choose to believe or say about them. They serviced their superiors with diligence. I attempted to follow suit. As I move on in 38 days, I’d like to quote Shakespeare once more: “If we meet again, we shall smile; if not, this parting was amicable.”

Adesina is President Buhari’s Special Adviser for Media and Publicity.