Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Special Adviser Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Femi Adesina and Managing Director, The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja were among dignitaries that paid tributes to the late veteran journalist, Duro Onabule, who was committed to mother earth.
At the Evening of Songs and Tributes held in Lagos recently, Babangida said, “his death has left a huge vacuum in my life. I received the news of his passing with shock. It was a bad birthday gift for me this year, my 81st year on mother earth. I didn’t believe the news until I compared notes with a few of my friends, who confirmed the sad news. Nigeria has lost a colossus, a wordsmith, a walking encyclopedia, a reservoir of knowledge and a rich chronicler of history, whose worldview is defined by sheer intellect, content and character.”
Speaking further, Babangida, recalled with nostalgia, the days while in office, “he was not just my Adviser-in-Chief, he was one of our brain boxes, in and out of office. He was a Chief Press Secretary per excellence. He was exemplary. He was punctual and adopted the military way of doing things; especially time management. His rich experience during our time in government helped in no small measure in our decision-making processes. He was nationalist par excellence. He was a dear friend.”
Fondly called Triple Chief, Babangida lauded his rich sense to recall of historical dates, remarkable events and notable landmarks.
Aside from being a resourceful writer, who maintained a didactic column in Daily Sun Newspaper, he noted that Onabule was always a delight each time they had to engage in intellectual discourse face to face.
To him, “Triple Chief would be sorely missed. In and out of government, he was part of my larger family, who understood the rationale behind most of the decisions we took in government. May Allah, in his infinite mercies and grace, repose his soul hereafter. May Allah grant members of his immediate and extended family the comportment and fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
Mohammed, on his part, recalled he had known Onabule for more than four decades, noting that he was the Chairman of the immediate past governing board of the NTA, a position he held creditably.
Describing him as a remarkable presidential spokesman, great columnist, nationalist and patriot, he added that he would be remembered, particularly for mentoring journalists.
Speaking in a similar vein, Adesina also recalled, “I had started reading Onabule in National Concord as an undergraduate in the 1980s. I read almost every word he wrote alongside other journalists in the stable like Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Mike Awoyinfa, Dimgba Igwe, Lewis Obi, Segun Babatope, Dele Alake, Chike Akabogu and many others. It was, therefore, a great honour for me to join Concord Press after school, and worked with many of them.”
When he turned 70 and held a celebration at Civic Centre in Lagos, Adesina recalled he was the Master of Ceremonies.
He said, “this shows the bond between us. And see the trajectory of his career and mine. He was the pioneer Features Editor of National Concord. I held the same position. He became Deputy Editor of the paper. I also did. He went on to become Editor. I did. He was appointed CPS, I also got appointed Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. He was a writer all his life. I hope to be.”
Conclusively, he described him as “a library burned to the ground on August 16, a day before the 81st birthday of his former principal. Adieu Double Chief. You were a dear senior friend. I’ll always remember you.”
In The Guardian’s tribute, the newspaper said: “The Nigerian media will miss an icon and a leader in the industry. Onabule was a Zikist to the core right from his days at CMS Grammar School. Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was his hero. The relationship was such that if you requested to have an interview with Dr. Azikiwe at Nsukka or do a story on him, he would ask that you clear with Duro Onabule or Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya in Lagos. Onabule got Babangida to approve naming the Press Centre at Dodan Barracks, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Press Centre. Till the end, all you needed to see Babangida in Minna was a note from Onabule. Their relationship endured till his last moment. For 22 years, Onabule ran a column with a considerable following in Sun Newspapers, where he displayed his writing skills and knowledge. President Buhari, too, appointed him Chairman of NTA in his first term.”
The Guardian noted that Onabule could be a fighter where, as Dr. Azikiwe would say, the enemy was clearly identified.
Members of the Old Grammarians’ Society (OGS), CMS Grammar School, Lagos, in their message, said Onabule belonged to a very proud and special set. The Centenary Set of 1959.
President of the Society, Olu Vincent, said, “Back then in school, his classmates nicknamed him Editor, which he became in real professional life years after. He would forever be remembered for the role he played in getting our school back from the government.”
The members recited the school anthem of their alma mater during the evening of tributes.
His children also poured tributes and encomiums on their late dad. One of them, Bolaji, described him as the most generous person “I have known. He was always willing to go the extra mile.”
Another, Babs, assured, “I will have a glass of wine on you every birthday till your 91st God is willing. Miss you much. May God grant your passage unto his kingdom.”
Femi Onabule noted, “he impacted so many lives so much that it brought tears to a young girl when she heard of my dad’s passing away. That’s my dad to many people but to his children, he was just a regular dad.”
Also, Seun Onabule said, “I would prefer to celebrate your life rather than mourn your loses. Our loss is heaven’s gain. A true wordsmith who was forever taking care of others.”
Born on September 27, 1939, Onabule attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos. An orphan at the age of 12, he started his career in Lagos as a journalist/reporter for Daily Express in 1961. Three years later, he joined the Daily Sketch.
During the Nigerian civil war, he travelled to England to obtain Higher National Diploma in Journalism. He continued as a freelance reporter for Daily Sketch before going back to his previous employer, Daily Express, in 1969, where he served as the London correspondent.
On his return to Nigeria in 1974, he joined the Daily Times as a senior reporter/ feature writer, rising to become the Deputy Editor of Headlines Magazine.
When late Chief MKO Abiola started Concord Press, he was appointed Features Editor, and then promoted to Deputy Editor of the paper in 1982. In 1984, he became the Editor. In 1985, he was appointed Chief Press Secretary to former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, a position he held for eight years.
Recently, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from 2018 to 2021.
In 1985, Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, bestowed on him the Jagunmolu of Ijebu Land title in recognition of his courage in confronting the then Ogun State government for an unfair intervention in the affairs of the Ijebu-Ode Royal dynasty. He died on August 16, 2022.
