VANGUARD’S life begins @40 By Emeka Obasi

My ties with Vanguard, something I cherish so much, is not known to many. This story must be told today for the Canal remains a place of pride where I noticed one love before veering into journalism in 1988 through Ely Obasi, of blessed memory.

I love writing, I also read a lot. In my undergraduate years, Dele Giwa and Ely Obasi, were my favourites. After National Youth Service in 1986, my eyes were on Foreign Service. That is one job so dear to my heart. I tried to pursue my dream, it did not work.

I fell back on writing. One day I walked into Vanguard Newsroom in search of Ely Obasi. We were neither friends nor brothers but the reception was out of this world. I guess, he was Features Editor at the time. I made known my desire to write.

And the very first time my article graced a newspaper page in 1987, it had to be in the Vanguard. I did pen some articles, Ely was so proud of me when I wrote about Manuel Noriega. He introduced me to Eghosa Aimufua(?) of the Foreign Desk. If my memory serves me right, Uche Onyebadi, was in charge there.

Ely and I were so close that people thought I was his younger brother. When he moved to Quality Magazine, he wanted me to come along. There was a mix up. We had another Emeka Obasi, who having finished National Service at the mother newspaper, NewsWatch, was retained and moved to the new publication.

We agreed that one Emeka Obasi was enough for Quality. I chose to be the opportunity cost. When Champion Newspapers came on, Ely wrote a letter to the Managing Director, Prince Henry Odukomaiya, with superb recommendations. That was how my journey ended at Ilasamaja.

Champion was big, money was huge, Odukomaiya (he turned 90 on July 10) made a mark there. In his days as MD, the name opened doors. When the Ijebu Prince took me to Minister of External Affairs, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu in 1991, I was shocked to see the officer come out of his Marina, Lagos office to receive the August Visitor.

Nwachukwu said Odukomaiya was his Editor. That was humility displayed beyond measure. Many of our modern day ministers will not accord such honour to a former boss. One take away from that visit was that the General spoke Igbo to me. I did not know he could speak our lingo.

And Nwachukwu asked me not to leave the Foreign Desk. He saw it coming. Before the end of the year, I was out of the Foreign Desk. I had missed a trip with him to Zambia. Later, we were supposed to be in Cameroon, I told his Media Aide, Mr. J. Awe, that I had left the Foreign Desk. I handed over the slot to my successor.

This brings me to Vanguard. I love the way things are run there. For 40 years, the paper has had just six editors – Muyiwa Adetiba, Toye Akiyode, Frank Aigbogun, Gbenga Adefaye, Mideno Bayagbon and Eze Anaba.

I know of other organisations that change Editors like underwear. Here today, there tomorrow. Used and dumped by bosses who feel threatened over nothing. Give it to Uncle Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard. The real Sad Sam is a super jolly good fellow.

The first time I saw him was at the Vanguard canteen where he mingled with his workers, without inhibitions. I know of, at least, one newspaper house that created a barrier between Senior and Junior Staff during meals. ‘European Quarters’ in a newspaper house.

I read all that Saturday Vanguard Editor, Onochie ‘ Onyegwu’ Anibeze wrote about Uncle Sam. I hereby confirm that there was no glitch in that tribute. Uncle Sam did not buy Onochie’s vote with money. The writer voted his conscience.

Vanguard is different because of the Publisher. You can take this to the bank. He does not care if his Editor owns a house on Banana Island or comes to work in a private jet or yacht. You wear Versace or Estee Lauder, Uncle Sam is cool with that.

It is difficult to forget Treena Kwenta. Vanguard had some powerful female columnists. I still keep their photographs. Doyin Omololu stained my heart with her Lipstick. Bunmi Sofola remains so Dear. Helen Ovbiagele, Gloria Ogundipe, Pamela Mojekwu, Donu Kogbara, Joy Ege and Meme Lawrence.

I am not so sure now of Gladys Akatakpo, Naana Newman and Amaridor Akpabugha. Maybe, they wrote for another publication. I think Meme’s dad was another super Vanguard Columnist, Bisi Lawrence, the man everyone called Bizlaw. Lola Fani Kayode, had something too.

There were other fine writers. Lari Williams, Kola Animashaun, those were Elders. Chris Okojie was Blunt but Fair, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Anibeze and Eyobong Ita, never looked back. I remember Tony Okonedo, who later moved to Shell, Siaka Momoh, Kayode Samuel, one time Information Commissioner in Ogun State, Hakeem Ikandu and Ogbonnaya Amadi, the Soul of Entertainment.

One of the best stories ever written on Chukwuma Nzeogwu could be found in the January 15, 1986 edition of the Vanguard. It was headlined: NZEOGWU’S SON TURNS UP. Mike Nwabueze did a good job when one Amechi, who claimed to be born of an Ogoja babe of Nzeogwu’s surfaced.

I have not forgotten cartoonists, Lawrence Akapa and his Cocktales, after Mr. and Mrs. Morak Oguntade, Oyinlola Oni’s Mama Twins and Sanmi Abejide’s Cheeks and Company. I think there was one Lizzy Anyanwu. I will ask Tony Ubani.

The best is on the way for Vanguard. I wish them more money, in pounds and dollars. That I write for Vanguard today is because I love Vanguard. There is no power show by the Big Man. Uncle Sam is not a Big Man, he is a Good Man. Anibeze ‘talk am as e be’. Patrick Omorodion returned home after ministerial service in Abuja. Vanguard is Home, indeed.