Osoba, a quintessential reporter, stateman ― Abiodun

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun,  has acknowledged the larger-than-life image of the second executive governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Abiodun in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin,  said, “Chief Osoba will be remembered for his resilience, tenacity of purpose and political brinkmanship that has honour.

“The title ‘Statesmen’ is not an honorific ascribed or acclaimed by default of social status. It is a journey through the path of excellence, sacrifice, selflessness and dedication to the destination of honour and fulfilment.

“You have journeyed that path for eight decades as a thoroughbred reporter, politician and administrator.”

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Gov Abiodun said as a political son of Osoba, he has learnt a lot from the octogenarian. “We are so very proud of the heritage you bequeath to us”

Describing Chief Osoba as not only a quintessential Statesman but a thoroughbred professional journalist whose legacy will be an inspiration to the successor generation of journalists.

In his biography, ‘Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics’, the statement added, “Baba Osoba reminisced on his sojourn in the past four his rise and rise in his first constituency – Journalism, and recalled that  “In 1964, I was the only Lagos reporter that had a home telephone”.

“Even with limited understanding in pragmatics,” the Governor noted, “it’s not difficult for an uninitiated to observe that what helped him to succeed in those years was an early investment in acquiring a telephone at home, which was a rarity in those days particularly for a young reporter. He also had a small notebook which he always carried with him. It was filled with addresses and phone numbers of contacts, politicians and newsmakers.”

Gov Abiodun said,”If I were to deduce anything from the extract above, more than being the first reporter to own a telephone in Lagos in 1964, it has to be how a highly motivated and visionary young journalist was so determined to succeed in his calling that he invested heavily in a tool which was seen then as a luxury. How it indeed helped him succeed!

“Aremo is arguably the most successful journalist of his generation and it is not difficult to see why he did.”

As a politician,  the statement described Chief Osoba, as “one of the finest, principled and pro-poor leaders who put the people first. That is discernible in how he led Ogun State twice as Governor, how he still leads APC in our State and how he fought for the actualisation of June 12 when Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate was annulled in 1993. He is a progressive of prodigious hue”

Gov Abiodun thanked the former governor for his inspirational leadership and pray that the Almighty will keep the reporter-statesman in good health.

In the same vein, a former member of the House of Representatives, Kunle Adeyemi, has described Chief Osoba, as a “die-hard progressive and staunch believer in grassroots development”.

Adeyemi, who represented Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2015 at the National Assembly, explained that Osoba’s background in journalism contributed immensely to his penchant for progressive politics which culminated to the pursuance of grassroots development while he governed Ogun.

He added that the former governor even at the age of 80, has not relented in promoting good governance at the grassroots, stressing journalism opened his eyes to the gap of development in rural communities.

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State also described Osoba as “an epitome of integrity and service”.

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In a press statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Publicity Secretary of APC Caretaker Committee in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, the Party remarked that: “as you celebrate your 80th birthday today sir,  we acknowledge and appreciate your contributions to the overall development of Nigeria, especially Ogun State.

As a leader, you have demonstrated an uncommon passion for mentoring and actualisation of common goals for the benefit of the greater majority.”

Oladunjoye described Chief Osoba as “the pillar the party tested on when it was not only abandoned but also confronted by the party’s biggest beneficiary in the last eight years. Baba was harassed, abused and insulted, but he stood firm and demonstrated the good attributes of a genuine statesman by insisting on principles of fairness, collectivity  and supremacy of the party, thereby piloting the party to a resounding victory despite the enormous and intimidation challenges.”

“Yours is a commendable and recommendable model. On behalf of the leadership and entire members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, we wish you many more years in good health and in service to humanity”, the statement concluded.