By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Not many that leave journalism practice on sabbatical do make it back with their dignity of personality, honour and commanded respect still intact. For Oga Femi Deacon Adesina, I doff my hat for a great professional.
He left the practice some eight years ago as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers Limited when his naturally chosen admirer of long standing, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, held him in the wrist and dragged into the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja essentially, as Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Buhari was then newly elected and camped inside the military ‘ipebi’ – the Defence House – as President-elect and was together with him there until his inauguration as substantive President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015.
Before then he had been editor at various media establishments notably Concord, Vanguard and, of course, served as what I would always call the Apostle of Bomb Journalism as editor and by which explosive journalism style he gave The Sun Newspapers the popularity emanating from his blown-font-size lead headlines.
I had a father in journalism, Alhaji Kola Animasaun, who died on May 30, 2019. He linked me with Dr. Femi Adesina, OON, and from day one of that link, the Ndi Igbo chief never left me behind in anthing spectacular national assignment that a non-appointee could be allowed by law to partake in.
He did that admirably well, especially as Special Adviser to Africa’s most powerful and exceptionally influential President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity. I enjoyed every bit of my experience working with him.
It is the reason I have continued to cherish what happened to him in Lagos on Wednesday June 21, 2023 when his media contemporaries and colleagues put a milestone of an event together in his honour. What can be more? I love a mentor, who can manage chaotic situation without appearing chaotic. Mr. Femi Adesina taught me how to practice journalism patriotically without breaching an inch of the ethics. He also has a brother, a professor of History of University of Ibadan, Professor Tayo Adesina, who can use Yoruba to design greatness and not even the Queen (then) and King (now) of England will have an issue. He too is a mentor that I got from my personal relationship with Oga.
The Wednesday June 21 outing was, therefore, not just an event or reception for the mere purpose of honouring the Igbo chief but, more remarkably, it was held to WELCOME him back to the journalism profession and, this time, in higher office of the Executive Vice Chairman of the Sun Newspapers Limited. I congratulate my new journalism mentor after the demise of Alhaji Animasaun, on his new office.
What the media colleagues had done to Dr. Adesina signposts the fact that he is not one of Spokesmen to Heads of State, who go into the Rock of Power, got twisted and manipulated by what Dr. Reuben Abati once described as ‘demons’ in the corridor of power and returned with all their fingers burnt beyond rehabilitation.
The Ipetumodu, Ile-Ife, Osun State-born Dr. Femi Adesina told us that, after May 29 2023, he would retire to farm. Someone like me started learning to walk to farm with him as it might be the next line of sojourn. But when the journalism community says it is not yet the time for his retirement, it means we all still have a long way to go as Journalists behind the great man of the pen profession.
That was what happened by the grand homecoming for him, as his media mentors, friends and colleagues, gathered at a Lagos high brow restaurant to receive him back into the fold that Wednesday.
I must particularly appreciate those media chiefs that were on ground to do him the honourable welcome home after eight years service to his country. They include the iconic editors like Mr. Mike Awoyinfa and wife, Mr. Dare Babarinsa and wife, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, former President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Lagos State Commissioner Hon Tunji Bello, Dr Tony Onyima, Mr. Shola Oshunkeye, Mr. Martins Oloja, Mr. Louis Odion, Mr. Eric Osagie, Mr. Steve Nwosu and wife, Mrs Funke Egbemode, Mr. Kunle Solaja.
Others were Mustapha Isah, immediate past President NGE, Mr. Eze Anaba, newly elected President, Ehi Braimah, Onuoha Ukeh, Bruce Malogo, Iheanacho Nwosu, Chidi Nnadi, Tope Adeboboye, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, Maureen Chigbo, Juliet Bumah, Victoria Ibanga.
Yet some others include: Ayodele Aminu, Femi Babafemi, the Azuh brothers, Arinze and Amatus, Dr Robert Obioha, Dr Sanya Awosan, Dr Boye Ola, Jane Nwosu, Chychy Ezenwa, Bunmi Awonaya and Feyi Smith, Executive Secretary, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
From outside the media were people like long time senior friend, Chief Fola Omolayo and wife, Dr Niyi Adesida and wife, Laide Adesida, Yemi Adesina and wife, among numerous others.
The media friends were unanimous in their comments: “Femi Adesina, you went into government, did us proud, represented us well, and that’s why we are here to welcome you back into the fold. If it were otherwise, you may not have seen majority of us tonight.”
