It was not unexpected, an Omoluabi to the core such as Kunle Ajibade, a leading light in purpose driven journalism and a deep thinker, couldn’t have been sixty without being honoured. Even by the standard of journalists, in which we celebrate others and refuse to do so for ourselves. It was enlivening that the auditorium of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs on Victoria Island, Lagos was filled to capacity last Wednesday.
Mr. Ajibade has been an inspiration for my generation of journalists, not only for his crusading stance but also for the intellectual and literary verve he adds to this job. Reading any story written or edited by him is like reading an engaging work of literature. And despite his profundity, he never at anytime became standoffish or proud. An original Omoluabi, who my friend Prof. Kole Ade-Odutola, in his poem of tribute describes as “the town crier of the oppressed.”
From a sitting governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State to former governor of Ogun State Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a grand elder of our tribe (journalists) who was the chair at the engaging outing, to our own Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka and another of the enduring elders of journalism in Nigeria, Mr. Sam Amuka, publisher of the Vanguard.
It was indeed a day of great honour for egbon Ajibade, who in truth does not deserve anything less. For any journalist who is a lover of arts and words, the depth of his writings, reviews and interviews with writers both at home and abroad could not have escaped notice
But beyond his writings which naturally attracted me to him, although I never worked with him. But from time to time we had met at many arts and book related events, he would always greet you with a familiarity that his peculiarly his own and no ones. He remembers names (how would a man who is such a voracious reader not remember details?), asks about your family and exchanges banters with you.
When my book on Jos and Ogbomoso people was to be publicly presented in 2012, there was only one person in my mind to approach to do a review of the book at its presentation. I told my friend Bamidele Johnson. He immediately put a call across to Mr. Ajibade to ask whether he was in the office. I could hear his soft voice from the other end confirming his presence. After Bamidele told him that he would like to introduce a friend to him, he said we can come immediately.
We left where we were and headed straight to his office. On entering his office he told Bamidele, “O serious, so it is Yinka you want to introduce to me?” He stretched out his hands and the rest, as they say is history.
He was elated that I have written a book about something that has to do with the crises that were then rocking the country and the city of Jos, in particular. He gladly agreed to be the reviewer even though as of then we had no certain date because we were waiting for our lead presenter to choose a date. When the date was eventually chosen he did a splendid review for this aburo.
Ajibade has really “entered the nation’s folklore” as Odia Ofeimun said at the event on Wednesday. Without people like him our nation would today not have made the little gains we have made, even with our democracy in crutches today.
To a man who signifies (for me) what I call undiluted literary journalism at its best, I rejoice with you and thank God that in a nation where many have disappointed many of us, you have remained constant and unmoved.
Happy birthday, Sir.