It is quite heartening to witness the Nigerian Tribune mark 75 years of its existence. A great institution that over the years has been dedicated to safeguarding the freedom and liberty of the Nigerian citizens. It is known to fight against wrong, abuse of power and injustice wherever they may manifest with absolute disregard to consequences as long as it is convinced that its cause is right. And government persecution coupled with the ill-will of allies of government functionaries unleashed against the publishing house and its editors is legendary. For Tribune, there is no looking back no matter the machinations of minions of darkness. In 1965 it was banned by the government of the day.
For decades, Tribune has been careful in the selection of its editors. They must be knowledgeable, they must have character and they must be brave.
The Tribune is the mirror of its founder, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, unyielding in that which it considers right, just, noble and honorable. Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola said this much on the occasion of the newspaper’s anniversary and again on the 50th birthday celebration of Chief Awolowo in March, 1959.
The current administrators, editors and columnists of the newspaper take after their predecessors.
During the military era, the newspaper’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Lateef Jakande (LKJ), wrote the then Inspector-General of Police, Kam Salem, that his men should stop harassing his editors. Whatever complaints the police authorities might have against publications in the newspaper, it was he the police should come for, stressing that if the complaints had to do with the newspaper editorials, in particular, it was he they should come after! The editorials were known for forthrightness, knowledge, clarity of thought, courage and, of course, language.
Among the star editors were Ayo Ojewumi. He was going in and out of jail for the newspaper’s convictions. During the newspaper’s travails, editorials were smuggled out of jail houses written by Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo and Ayo Ojewumi. They were published by Emiola, later Professor of law, deputizing for Ojewumi.
During the military era the newspaper was unrelenting in its crusade for a return to the democratic order. Chief Bola Ige led the pack of writers blaring thunderous columns. The others were Gani Fawehinmi, Kanmi Ishola Osobu, Ebenezer Babatope, (Ebino Topsy), Odia Ofeimu. We cannot forget Felix Adenaike nor can we push Tola Adeniyi aside. Under Adenaike’s leadership whom colleagues fondly called ‘GOC’,the newspaper flourished commercially, spreading far and wide and it was the Nigerian version of Times of London widely known as the Thunderer speaking for Great Britain. At all times, the Tribune was at the centre of the proverbial Lagos-Ibadan axis of the Nigerian press.
Among renowned publishers and editors that passed through the portals of the Nigerian Tribune were Olu Aboderin of The Punch, Allah-De, Henry Odukomaiya, Aremu Alabi and Mac Alabi.
As long as the Tribune remains uncompromising on truth and recognises hypocrisy for what it is, it will live for centuries to come, regardless of the boast of Mr. Technology and its offspring, Artificial Intellegence, alias AI.
After all despite the threat of Mr. AI, The New York Times, founded in 1851, was by 2019 still selling 2,101,611 and Times of London, 417,298 up from 404,155 in 2016.
I heartily congratulate the Nigerian Tribune. It is a great newspaper.
- Mr Bonuola is a former Managing Director of The Guardian
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