Bashorun Agba Oye, garlands for Chief Dele Momodu @ 60

He was consistent with his advice to me – strive to stand out and make more friends than enemies, because nothing lasts forever.

The first time was in 1998 March. I was on a working visit to England as a European Union Fellow in Paris, where I was spending a full academic year as a mid-career journalist, on sabbatical from The Guardian.

After I was done with my fellowship research in London to find out why the Brits were vehemently against dropping their pounds sterling for the proposed euro, I received a message from Lagos to use the opportunity to seek Bob Dee out in London.

Jahman Anikulapo, my boss at The Guardian, thought it would be nice to have an interview with Bashorun against the background of the issues of stability that Ovation magazine was dealing with.

Bob Dee agreed and we met at his his new glittering talk-of-the-town office at the Docklands.

He never shied away from any probing question. Every enquiry deserves an appropriate response was his philosophy.

When we were done, he wanted to know if I would return to Nigeria at the end of my journalism fellowship or would seek opportunities in Europe. But he hardly waited for my response before he gave that priceless words of advice:

“Whatever you decide – please stand out and make more friends than foes. Our trade thrives on goodwill.”

He would repeat the same deep words to me three other times over the course of the next 20 years.

First was in 2005 when I visited his beautiful home in London while I was on a study leave from Punch to earn a master’s degree at University of Leicester. Second time was barely two years later when I was appointed Editor of The Punch…and then eight years later in 2015 when I was announced as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State.

No words of congratulations ever came from Bashorun Dele Momodu without complimentary words of advice.

At each landmark bend that I have navigated in my career, Bob Dee had always shown up, one way or the other, with wise counsel and brotherly love, even when I’m not in any way one of the closests to him.

He has always been accommodating and he genuinely seeks the progress of those around him.

It will fill a whole book to recall one’s close encounters with Chief Momodu. At every turn, for me, it has always been fond, fun-filled memories. Whether it was the good old days in the 90s when he was a factor in general interest journalism, or when he made Ghana his second home in the early 2000s and once spoilt us silly, in company with Charly Boy and Chief Dele Abiodun, in the hey days of PMAN; or in company with his alter ego, Prince Demola Aderemi and my indefatigable boss, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim; or in far away Toronto, Canada to fly the flag of Lagos State in company with his friend like brother, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; or even at the Eagles Park hotel in Ikeja where he declared his presidential ambition in 2011, where some of us had to keep strategic vigil with him, all night, few days to the election, Bashorun Momodu has always being his ebullient, quintessential self, who flows so easily with every class of people.

In the history of Nigeria’s contemporary journalism, his place is assured among the stars, especially as one who brought a new cool to what naysayers used to derisively call junketing journalism.

In him, one cannot miss the discipline and dedication as well as the insight he has brought into his weekly column.

How he finds time to do many things over the years without removing his eyes from the journalism ball should serve as an inspiration for the younger generation of journalists and those, in general, who require the lesson and inspiration needed in creating enduring media brands and a name that develops into a legacy on its own.

My Mum’s church in Ibadan will remember Bashorun for his presence and kind support when he honoured my invitation to celebrate my  Mum’s 70th birthday in June 2012.

For me, I will continue to respect him as the courageous, consistent and charismatic icon whose orchestra has found his loud, joyous rhythm that is playing to a loud ovation.

At 60, nature might slow him down slightly in a few areas and I hope that he will develop thicker skin against those who perpetually trade in bile, and to respond less to a few who often seek to draw him out.

He has reached the sixth floor of life with good health and a great brand. At this stage in life, Sexagenarians concern themselves more with diamonds, the gems that last forever.

Bjt our own Bob Dee need not go far to find those diamonds. He already embodies the gemstones.

May he live to celebrate many more years in good health and abundance.

Happy birthday, Agba Oye!

*Ayorinde, former Lagos state commissioner for information and later tourism & culture, is a media consultant and promoter of Museum of News Africa.