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Eminent Nigerians honour Osoba, Adenaike, Ajayi at book launch

By Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head, Southwest Bureau, Ibadan)
23 February 2018   |   2:35 am
Eminent Nigerians yesterday recognised the roles of some prominent journalists in Nigeria’s development and enthronement of democratic government in the country. Specifically, roles played by the former Managing Director of Daily Times and former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Felix Adenaike....

Chief Olusegun Osoba, Former governor of Ogun State

Eminent Nigerians yesterday recognised the roles of some prominent journalists in Nigeria’s development and enthronement of democratic government in the country.
Specifically, roles played by the former Managing Director of Daily Times and former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Felix Adenaike and the late Peter Ajayi were relieved at the presentation of book entitled: The Three Musketeers, authored by Agboola Sani.

Speaking at the event, a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, General Adetunji Olurin (rtd.) said military men “have no place in politics.”Recalling his experience when he contested the governorship position of Ogun State, he said: “I will never go into politics again. A military man has no place in politics”.

Acknowledging the advisory role The Three Musketeers played during his tenure, Olurin noted, “When I was in trouble with the kings, Adenaike and Ajayi used to caution me. “They always warned me to respect tradition. As a military governor, I thought I could smash everything but I learnt many lessons through the media”.

Prominent Nigerians at the event include the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, former Governor of Western region, General Oluwole Rotimi (rtd.), Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, who was also the Chairman of the occasion and Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspaper, Gbenga Adefaye.

Others are wives of the late Peter Ajayi, Mrs. Iyabode Ajayi and Mrs. Kemi Ajayi, Colonel Yakubu Anifowoshe (rtd.), Mrs. Korede Adenaike and Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, who represented Governor Abiola Ajimobi, among others.

Oba Adeyemi, the royal father of the day listed icons in the journalism profession and the roles they played, saying the trio “may not be biological brothers but the social gene breeds competence, excellence and professional integrity bind them together”.

The book reviewer, Professor Adeolu Akande, said The Three Musketeers’ stock of social capital was so immense that they dared to walk where angels feared to tread.
He recalled when Osoba, as Managing Director of Daily Times contested the post of National President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) against the Publisher of National Concord, the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, a contest he described it as “a duel between David and Goliath.”

“The book is a compendium of stories and experiences that students of Nigerian history, politics and media would find invaluable in their quest for a better understanding of their country,” he added.

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