Former Editor of Punch on Sunday, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, took to her Facebook to pay tribute to Mr Wale Aboderin, the Chairman of The Punch newspaper, who died last Wednesday. Ogunseye, a multiple-award winning writer and internationally celebrated journalist, is the Head, BBC West Africa.
A friend called me on Thursday to ask if I heard you were dead.
I immediately made a few calls and confirmed it was true.
I can’t believe you are no more. Dead? Just like that?
I do not think you were ready to go, no, you had so much you wanted to achieve.
I’ve been thinking about what could have been your last thoughts: God, Dolphins, your daughters and Punch. In no particular order.
I called you a few weeks ago but your number was busy. I said to myself that I would try again later. Later became never.
What I have left are memories. Memories of how loving and kind you were.
I thanked you for all you did for me when you were alive but I’m more grateful now. Thanks for making your mark in my life and thanks for the opportunities you gave me.
You will see my grandma. You won’t miss her in the crowd; we look alike, she’s just fairer than me. Please hug her for me and tell her I didn’t want her to go. I did all I could, I’m sure she knows. You both can swap stories about me as people who knew me well. She’s funny like you, so I know both of you will hit it off. Please play with her often, I don’t want her to be lonely. Tell her I miss her and she’s forever in my heart.
You will also see my bestie Seun. He’s cheerful and easy-going like you. He promised to buy a house for me when he gets super rich, tell him not for forget to make it happen from heaven. A promise is a promise. I miss him too.
The three of you are my guardian angels now.
Pops, rest well.
I will miss you too.