Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo, and Senator Dayo Adeyeye were among distinguished Nigerians that paid tributes to the celebrated journalist and former Executive Director of Tell Magazine and Chairman, Gaskia Media Limited, Dare Babarinsa at 70, describing him as a great journalist.

They spoke at a book presentation authored by Babarinsa and titled: Eat Now, Pay Later in Lagos yesterday.

Adams said he was one of those that fought for democracy during the military era.

He recalled: “I know his sacrifice during the June 12 struggle. He is very deep about history.”

Chairman of the birthday committee, Senator Adeyeye, described Babarinsa as one of the best journalists Nigeria has ever produced. To Adeyeye, Babarinsa is a storyteller, an icon, historian, reserved and unassuming.

He has made his contributions to the upliftment of this country. At 70, he is still young at heart.”

The book reviewer, Shola Oshukeye, said the literature is divided into 25 chapters. He described Babarinsa as his ancestor in journalism. In the book, he added that the author documented important records and milestones, making the book a must read.
 
Professor of Journalism at the University of Lagos, Ralph Akinfeleye, saw Babarinsa as one of his students that he digilently worked with.

Chairman of the event, Ife Oyedele, expressed concern over the state of the nation.

Responding, Babarinsa, who acknowledged the guests for gracing the event, stated that in the book, “Eat now, pay later,” “the reader is served, in exhilarating details, vignettes of modern Nigerian history, from the heroic exploits of Chief Moshood Abiola and the inner power plays that culminated in the June 12 debacle to the demands of modern democracy and the new challenges facing the historically influential Nigerian media. He added, “but we are glad that we still have people like Dare who are the conscience of our nation.”