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Journalism as a profession and indeed Nigeria lost an intellectual colossus in 2022. That person was an example of discipline and dedication to service coupled with his principle of unalloyed loyalty to any cause he believed in. He is the late Chief Duro Onabule whose legacies are worth recalling; SUNNY IDACHABA writes.
Chief Duro Onabule, popularly known as Egbon among his contemporaries, was one of the finest journalists of excellence and dedication to assignments that Nigeria has ever produced. He was in the class of other senior journalists like Segun Osoba, the late Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, Dare Babanrisa and others who set the pace for what journalism is today.
He died a few years ago after clocking 83 years on earth, a life well-lived having traversed the pen profession alongside public relations during his time.
Chief Duro was the editor of the defunct National Concord at a time journalism was a profession next to none in the country. Apart from that, he was also the chief press secretary to former President Ibrahim Babangida between 1985 and 1993.
Towards the end of that regime, it was for him a period likened to being torn between the devil and the deep blue sea because of the situation in the country arising from the June 12 debacle where his loyalty was put to test between his boss, the military General and the General’s friend, Chief MKO Abiola (his former boss) whose electoral victory the administration led by the General just annulled.
It would be recalled that MKO was the one who recommended him to IBB when the latter wanted someone to manage his information machinery. Therefore, being someone very close to both leaders, how the late Duro managed the affairs without being branded a betrayer by any of the two remains a subject matter for psychologists.
Following his passage to the other side on August 16, 2022, encomiums were poured on this man known for his blunt and frank disposition on any matter he was convinced about, no matter whose ox was gored.
Chief Eric Teniola, a close ally of late Duro, was one of those who opened up certain hidden facts about his late friend. He was also the one Onabule’s family authorised to announce the news of his death to the world, being his closest friend.
Recalling how their paths crossed many years ago, he said, “I met him by accident. There was a party in Ijebu Ode. At that party, a friend, one Awosanya said, “Come and meet your Egbon. In Yoruba, Egbon means the ‘elder one’ or ‘your senior.’
“He was then writing for Daily Times as features editor. After my friend introduced us, our friendship started and became solidified up till the time I came to Lagos to cover activities of the Constituent Assembly Drafting Committee.
“At that time, I used to go to Daily Times at Kakawa Street because I had a friend, one Dayo Sobowale who was close to Egbon. In 1987, General Ibrahim Babaginda came on a state visit to Ondo. I was the Chief Press Secretary to Navy Commodore Olabode George who was governor then.
“An incident happened that would have marred the visit. I tried to manage it so that it doesn’t escalate since the press guys were in the know, but I couldn’t; so the matter was already raising tension and if published the following day, it would damage the General’s visit and by extension the image of my boss.
“When I told Egbon, he simply asked me to put a call through to those journalists and when I did, he simply told them that he doesn’t want the matter published and that was the end. For him, his words are final, especially when convinced on any issue. His intervention saved the visit from being scandalous. “During that state visit too, they allocated official quarters to Egbon, but he said he was not going to stay there; rather would stay with me throughout the duration.
“You need to know him. His yes is his yes. His no is his no. He was a forthright man. He was a Zikist; not an Awoist to the end. He was a man of high principles who would say it as it is. If he is with you, you don’t have any problem, but if he is against you, please, plead with him because he would say it as it is. He doesn’t make friends nor trust people easily, but the ones that he trusts, he gets closer and defends them for the rest of his life.
“Another thing about Onabule is that he was a detribalised guy. He treated human beings according to the content of their character, not their tribe. He does not believe in relating with you because you are Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. He is too highly principled for such. I am going to miss him personally because he has been part of my life.”
No wonder on hearing the news about his death, a devastated General Babangida could not hide his emotions when he declared that, “I have lost an elder brother as I received with profound sorrow news of the death of my dear friend, adviser, Chief Duro Onabule, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83.
“It is a sad irony that Chief Onabule, who was usually amongst the first to celebrate my birthday, died on the eve of my anniversary, and his passing will no doubt cast a long shadow over the festivities.
“For eight years, this highly accomplished journalist and man of letters stood by me as we tried to re-engineer this country. His intelligence, patriotism and absolute fidelity to the unity of this nation shone through, becoming a big part of the successes we managed to achieve at the time.
“…in the light of the peculiar circumstances we found ourselves, employing his formidable journalistic skills to get the buy-in of fellow Nigerians. Chief Onabule was a man of excellent comportment and I began to call him ‘double chief’ when his people of Ijebu Ode deservedly made him a high chief.
“He brought his usual dignity to bear on the position, as he had done in every job that ever came his way. I will always remember his loyalty and support even long after we left office.”
Writing about Chief Duro, a journalist, Segun James, said in the days of June 12, 1993 imbroglio, the world of Chief Duro Onabule became a small, dark and cluttered place.
“It was the time he had to hide not out of fear but because of his particular position in the scheme of things as events that saw the annulment of the election won by his former boss and mentor, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola unfolded. It was Abiola who recommended him to his friend, General Ibrahim Babangida, who just successfully plotted his way to power in a coup that saw the ouster of General Muhammadu Buhari.
“During this period, Abiola enjoyed a chummy relationship with Babangida who also encouraged him to contest the presidency when the ban on politics was lifted. Abiola won that election considered the freest in the nation’s history, but soon the calculation changed as Babangida refused to relinquish power and the election was cancelled.
“Onabule was now torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. Because of his relationship with Abiola, he became a suspect in the power equation. He was not fully trusted by the people around Babangida even though Babangida himself trusted him and he could not fully relate with Abiola either. He was soon a man in limbo. Never wanted here and never needed there. June 12 had a momentous impact on his life, privately, publicly and politically.”
“Onabule calls the blunt of anyone, for instance because of his belief on where he stands per time, he is not a fan of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He once said of the former president that, “It was always predictable that given his notoriety, it was a way of life for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to resume his pastime of undermining his military and civilian successors by making President Muhammadu Buhari his latest victim of attack. Amusingly, the rabble Obasanjo rouses on such occasions has dignified his deplorable tactics to a sort of distinction. There is this latent personality complex of striving never to be outshone or exceeded by any Nigerian living or dead. Hence, at the slightest prospect of being threatened, Obasanjo comes charging.”
Although late, he is today remembered as an unforgotten hero.
