I was the last journalist to interview Sir Ahmadu Bello before his death during 1966 coup ― Memaiyetan

•Recounts how House of Assembly mace was used to smash his head

Veteran journalist, public relations expert and community leader, Prince Ajayi Memaiyetan, recently turned 83. He spoke with SEGUN KASALI about his life journey, especially those tempestuous days as a journalist.

How was growing up?

I was born and bred in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on October 5, 1942, where I had my primary and secondary education at St Bernard’s and St David’s Catholic Mission Schools, respectively, from 1948 to 1960.

You also practised journalism at a point. Do you still remember those times and moments as a cub reporter?

I actually had my baptism of fire as a cub reporter at the Nigerian Tribune in 1961. It was there I cut my teeth in journalism.

What were those episodes or events you covered as a reporter that still remain with you today?

One such moment was in the Western Region House of Assembly when the mace before the Speaker was used to smash my head and blood started gushing out.

I also remember the Wetie days. A state of emergency was declared by the Federal Government under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and President Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. This made Dr Majekodunmi the Sole Administrator for six months. The Premier of the region, Chief S. L. A. Akintola, and the Action Group Party Leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were sent to detention. Akintola was later released and returned as Premier, while Chief Awolowo faced the Coker Commission of Inquiry on his tenure as the former Premier. From there, charges of treasonable felony were levelled against him and some of his supporters were sentenced to various prison terms.

I reported all these beats for the Nigerian Tribune before I was invited to join the Daily Sketch in 1964 at the Investment House in Lagos. The newspaper was published by the Western Ministry of Information under Chief Akintola to support his government for the 1965 election, which was rigged and led to the Western Crisis—Operation Wetie (burning down of properties).

I later made contact as a Yoruba Northerner and was employed by the New Nigerian newspaper, which debuted on January 1, 1966, in Kaduna. I became the last reporter to interview the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, on the eve of the January 15, 1966 coup, on his arrival from Saudi Arabia, where he had gone to perform the Umrah (lesser Hajj). At the airport to welcome him was Chief Akintola, who came to inform the Sardauna of an impending coup, which had already prompted President Azikiwe to flee to America. Akintola wanted both of them to escape, but the Sardauna dismissed the information with a wave of the hand. Chief Akintola returned to Ibadan after the Sardauna told airport reporters that he needed advice on the Western situation. That very night, a bloody coup took place, killing the Sardauna and Chief Akintola—still in the Agbada he wore to Kaduna to leak the coup plot. Yoruba and Hausa top officers, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, and his Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, also lost their lives.

But what did they use to lure you from the Daily Sketch to the New Nigerian? Were you made the Editor of the paper?

Yes, I was appointed the West Regional Editor of the New Nigerian after the July counter-coup. Immediately Biafran troops invaded the Mid-West, I was directed to move to the battlefront, where Gen. Gowon declared full-scale war against Biafra. Before then, it had been a police action in the East. A bullet narrowly missed my head at Ore when rebellious Biafran soldiers ambushed our vehicles. Major Victor Banjo had already been withdrawn as the sole administrator of the “Bight of Benin” (the Mid-West region) for refusing to move troops to Lagos. Ojukwu replaced him with Major Nwankwo and had Banjo executed by firing squad in Biafra.

Were you able to cover the civil war to the end?

After the Federal troops recaptured the Mid-West, my admission into the global editors’ body, the International Press Institute (IPI), which was sponsored by the Ford Foundation at the University College of Nairobi for a special African programme in journalism, made me leave the battlefront. In Kenya, I was killing two birds with one stone because I worked as a foreign correspondent for the New Nigerian covering East Africa.

I reported the first peace talks on the Nigerian Civil War that broke down in Ethiopia, where I met the mercenaries fighting for Ojukwu.

When did you return to Nigeria?

I returned to Nigeria after my sojourn in East Africa to set up a public relations firm in late 1968, while also writing for Drum Magazine, Modern African Magazine, and Translator Magazine, which first gave me the “Peace Ambassador” Award. As a journalism activist, I started the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 1967. Due to lack of patronage for PR, my colleague Olusegun Osoba made me the Northern Editor of the Nigerian Herald, owned by the Kwara State Government, when he was seconded by The Daily Times. Chief Osoba later became Managing Director of Daily Times and eventually Governor of Ogun State. I was later seconded to the government-owned Triumph newspaper in Kano.

To what extent would you say journalism has rewarded you?

My activities made the World University in Benson, Arizona, U.S.A., award me a Ph.D. (Honoris Causa). The State Military Governor, Col. Sani Bello, also made me a Justice of the Peace (JP) for the first Kano State Rent Tribunal. I was elected the first Kano State Chairman of the NUJ, which later became a professional and industrial union affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). I was the first elected State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). Other honours include Elder Statesman of Journalism, NUJ Award for Good Leadership, Patron Award of the Media by the Catholic Diocese of Kano, Rotary International Premier Club Professional Excellence Award, and the Most Tolerant Lecturer Award by the International Institute of Journalism (Kano Centre).

What legacies did you leave as a journalist?

My era in Kano produced Naziru Zaharadeen as National Vice President of the NUJ and two Presidents—Sani Zoro and Mohammed Garba—making them the first from the North. Alhaji Sabo Mohammed (Sarkin Media) also became the first Northerner to become the National President of the NIPR after serving as my Vice-Chairman in Kano State.

Any regrets?

I would have loved to become a lawyer. That I ended up being a journalist is a gain to journalism. So, I am happy being a journalist and a public relations expert.

But why the ambition to read law?

I was ambitious about being a lawyer because even during ordinary arguments in the classroom, people would say you should go and get a lawyer. Growing up in Ile-Ife and seeing people like Fani-Kayode and others who were successful lawyers motivated me.

How do you relax?

I relax by reading. That is the funniest form of relaxation. I am not an alcoholic. I am a vegetarian. I love writing.

What songs do you listen to now?

I was in the choir when my father was a pastor. I love songs with meaningful impact, not these modern songs.

Your advice to your younger ones?

They should read or learn something. Young people are in a hurry, and when that happens, they become susceptible to crime.