SEGUN OSOBA'S NEWSPAPER YEARS

Journalism is set to record another milestone with the launch of the book, Segun Osoba, The Newspaper Years, written by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe, on Thursday, March 22 at the Agip Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Indeed, the book would serve as a great input to the journalism world in Nigeria.

The authors decided to explore the unwritten story of the two time executive governor of Osun State, Chief Segun Osoba, when Concord Press of Nigeria, where they worked was closed down by the military junta in the 90's.

According to them they chose to channel their anger, energy and creativity into something worthwhile which has resulted into the masterpiece, Segun Osoba, The Newspaper Years.

The compilation of this book did not come so easily as the two authors later abandoned the project. 'For years, we had abandoned the manuscript, almost forgotten. Dimgba, whatever happened to the Osoba book? Mohammed Haruna asked one day in a phone conversation. That singular question from the blue triggered a reactivation of the project…. The challenge of documenting these unique individual experience was certainly enormous, but thank God for finally bringing the book to pass.' they explained.

Osoba is described as a man who has climbed every peak in journalism, rising from a reporter to become the editor of the Lagos Weekend and later Daily Times; a media turnaround manager, who as the general manager of the government-owned Herald (Kwara State) and Sketch (the Western states), turned these drain-pipe newspapers into cash cows. He is a great newspaperman, who had distinguished himself as a reporter, editor and newspaper manager par excellence As a ubiquitous reporter, Osoba was everywhere with his scooter. He is popular for his dare devil exploits as the reporter who found the remains of the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa and Finance Minister, Okotie Eboh during the 1996 coup. Despite the imposed curfew, he took the risk of going to the Daily Times office to report on the new Head of State, Murtala Muhammed.

Employing the first person narrative approach-a reportorial genre, Awoyinfa and Igwe, who are also gurus in the profession, present the 396-page book captivatingly in five parts.

Part One is made up of the interviews of the patriarchs including Alhaji Babatunde Jose (now late), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Peter Enahoro, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, Prince Henry Odukomaiya and Chief Tony Momoh.

Part Two consists of media academics in the likes of Professor Olu Obafemi, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Dr. Doyin Abiola, Professor Femi Sonaike (late) and Dr. Idowu Sobowale.

The Musketeers, Felix Adenaike and Peter Ajayi (late) are heard in Part Three while the media icons, Ray Ekpu, Mohammed Haruna, Ajibade Fashina-Thomas, Lade Bonuola and Kunle Elegbede make up the Part Four. The interviews of Rasheed Gbadamosi, Dr. O. O. Finnih and Titus Sokanlu are presented in Part Five as The Outsider.

The book is in depth, very revealing and didactic. From the story of the major character, Segun Osoba, readers are given the full dose of journalism practice (especially print) from the 50s to the 90's, which is an era that saw Nigerian print media soar to its highest heights, giving birth to the media patriarchs as earlier mentioned including Adamu Ciroma.

Everything is clearly and plainly written out for anyone who wishes to excel in the profession. The diction is superb. It is neither the verbose of the Shakespearean age nor colloquial but excellent language. It is detailed and expressive. With ease, the reader reads through the 396 pages and still looks for more. The book is explicit leaving no stone unturned. Since it uses reportorial technique, it gives no room for alteration by the authors. The presentation is raw, factual and true from close contact and personal experience of the narrators.

Using selected icons both in the media and non-media as mouthpieces, the personality, popularity and character of the man, Segun Osoba are laid bare, also are the hassle, joy and politics of journalism, which are always related to the government of the day.

In the words of the authors, 'We started with the notion of a media biography of Osoba, but indirectly ended up with a collection of the biographies of the finest newspapermen from Nigeria in the half of the century. In recounting their media encounter with Osoba, each icon starts with personal recollections of their own newspaper odyssey and in the process, revealing seminal tips, famous encounters and anecdotes about the craft and practice of print journalism in Nigeria.'

Many issues such as 'journalism as an advantage in governance', 'anti-colonial warriors,' 'the columnist, past and present,' 'what to look out for in an editor,' 'role models, journalism and politics' and 'journalism today' are discussed.

Other interesting pieces are 'Segun and I almost got killed on his motorcycle' by Dr. O. A. Finnih; 'Osoba's biggest scoop;' 'Daily Times crisis:' 'I covered Watergate and Ali's fights with Osoba,' by Dr. Idowu Sobowale; 'Zik and Awolowo as journalists' by Lateef Jakande; 'Osoba took after me' by Alhaji Babatubde Jose; 'Osoba, my reporter' by Peter Enahoro, 'The sad Sam column' by Sam Amuka-Pemu and many others.

Osoba's success is attributed to the prayers of his mother, who is a relation of the famous Apostle Joseph Babalola, one of the founders of Christ Apostolic Church

(CAC), the pioneer of Pentecostal movement in Nigeria.

Dedicated to all reporters who are still committed to the craft of true journalism, which Segun Osoba epitomizes, the book documents the history of journalism in Nigeria, inculcating who is who and the numerous newspapers that informed the people in the past. Aside documenting history, it celebrates the present and flashes into the future. It is a walking manual for every young promising journalist. It is also a research material for both young and old journalists and anyone in search of knowledge.

The book also highlights some relevant points of interest for the readers to note. It also showcases some photographs of Segun Osoba in his traditional chieftaincy regalia as Aremo; his 70th birthday; with members of his family, including his wife, Derin; with President Ronald Reagan; President Shehu Shagari; Obafemi Awolowo and others.

It is an excellent piece and a must read for every journalist.

The duo, Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe are also authors of the journalism classic, The Art of Feature Writing in 1990; the business bestseller, 50 Nigeria's Corporate Strategists: Top CEOs Share Their Experiences in Managing Companies in Nigeria, in 1999 and Nigeria's Marketing Memoirs: 50 Case Studies, Mike Adenuga: Africa's Business Guru in 2005 among other books.

Awoyinfa and Igwe revolutionized human interest journalism in Nigeria when they pioneered the highly successful Weekend Concord in 1989, which became the highest circulating newspaper in Nigeria for over 10 years. Aside that, they became the founding Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limited in 2002. Currently, the two are the publishers of the fast selling entertainment weekend paper, Entertainment Express.