The Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Gustav Jung, who coined the phrase, ‘you cannot run away from your shadows’, may not have thought of it only in negative terms. In life, there are persons and instances you cannot wish away. There are equally tasks you cannot run away from. They will always be there, hanging over your shoulders and reminding you to do the needful. This is the situation I find myself in. Since Thursday, October 22, when Oyinlade (Lade) Bonuola (I am actually more at home calling him Oga), celebrated his 80th birthday, developments in the country, had forced me to postpone this tribute on him. But I just can no longer keep pushing aside this duty for one that truly deserves it.
Bonuola, known more in the industry, as Ladbone, is very dear to me and my family. In age, public standing and accomplishments, we are kilometres apart. He is the boss. Like others, I drink from his fountain of knowledge. But he has shown great interest and passion to my progress in the job and attainments by my children in their academic endeavours. His meticulous attention to my writings, observations, corrections, and observations, are remarks I look forward to each time I forward a copy of my article to him. It is not for nothing that I refer to him as the Pen Master!
There is also the father-figure role he plays that disarms me. Sometime in 2015, a year after some of us left Daily Independent Newspapers to found TheNiche Online, Oga invited me over to a lunch in Agbara, Ogun state, apparently to know how I was faring in my new place. As we talked, I noticed his subtle efforts at finding out if the stress of leaving a relatively comfort zone for an uncertain environment, was hard on me. As he did so, I felt his readiness to assist me secure a job in The Guardian Newspapers, if I would not mind. I did not want to offend him with an outright rejection of the goodwill but politely suggested being left to stay the course in my new place. He appreciated my courage and gave me tips on how my colleagues and I could run the place profitably even in the face of odds. He particularly advised us not to fall to the antics of money bags who could come with a dummy of bailing us out of our financial challenges but with hidden intentions of cornering the outfit.
That has remained a piece of advice which experience has shown to be valid.
Ladbone exhibited similar empathy recently, when my son, Chinedum (Odogwu), who had initially shown interest in going for his National Youth Service in the North, later changed his mind due to insecurity in the region and preferred being posted to Lagos. I made inquiries with my very good friend, Eddie, who works with a member of the House of Representatives, who promptly went into action and assured of success. I also opened a line of communications on the matter with another colleague, who asked me to mention it to a mutual friend, a Professor of Journalism in Lagos State University (LASU). The Prof, in his usual frankness, confessed that his contact in NYSC had left but he could nose around for another helper. It was at that point that he recommended reaching out to Bonuola, who he said, could help.
I did not know how to approach Oga with the request, since I forgot telling him that Chinedum had graduated. But I needed to. And I called him. True to my fear, he charged at me for not giving him the update he needed on Odogwu, for which I pleaded forgiveness. I still recall his exact words afterwards: “Alex (as he calls me), Chinedum has done his own. The rest is mine (him)”. I have never had such a reassuring answer in my life. And he went to work. Two days later, he told me that the matter had been settled. So, with the kind efforts from him and Eddie, Odogwu was posted to Lagos.
Oga’s affection for my wife, Dr. Jane, my daughter, Chidiogo and the Baby of the House, Chijindu, is equally infectious. His excitement on hearing that Chijindu is studying Medicine in the University, was indeed, palpable. He expressed similar joy on learning about my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in LASU. His encouragement counted among the support and positive reinforcement that kept me going, when the programme seemed daunting at a point.
Some of his writings and interventions in other areas of national assignment outside the press, aligned with the object of my research title; “The Press and politics in Nigeria, 1970-2023”. It was in consequence that I accorded him robust mention on Pages 166-169 of the thesis – a section that dealt with “pathfinders and gatekeepers of the Nigerian Press”. I could not have thought of a more befitting way to immortalize one that has shown me love and deserves being honoured.
When therefore his dutiful daughter, Fantastic Bibi (truly fantastic in name and carriage), called to invite me and the family to the birthday ceremony, I simply told her that coming from Oga, it was a privilege and duty that must be done. The event which took place at the Civic Centre, Lagos, lived up to the billing – a celebration of life and roll call of leading lights in the Media. That was hardly surprising, anyway. This is a man from Kishi, Oyo state, whose circle of friends and contacts extends beyond his South West region of birth. During our Agbara meeting, I recall how he whispered that four of his six daughters were married to Igbo men, with a suspicion of the fifth toeing same path. Could that be why he has shown much affection for me and my family? I don’t know and can’t say. But I know that he also has close friends and associates from other parts of the country.
Among those that graced the celebration were; former Ogun State Governor and erstwhile Editor of Daily Times, Olusegun Osoba, former Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Emeka Izeze, erstwhile Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Daily Independent Newspapers, Ted Iwere, former Managing Director of the New Age Newspapers, Sully Abu, Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Onuoha Ukeh, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba and his predecessor, Funke Egbemode. All the speakers at the occasion harped on the thoroughness and spartan discipline of Bonuola in his days at Daily Times, where he was the chief sub-Editor and The Guardian.
In a befitting piece titled; ‘The bone of our bones: A tribute to Lade Bonuola at 80, Senator Babfemi Ojudu, a newsroom veteran who had represented Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, wrote; “Ladbone was not merely part of our professional upbringing; he was its backbone. He taught us how to report, how to edit, how to write editorials, how to plan pages and, above all, how to respect facts. He was a master of every department of newspaper production. Indeed, if journalism were a human body, he would be part of its skeleton—the structure that holds everything together while remaining largely unseen. That is why I have chosen to call him the bone of our bones”.
Another master of the craft, Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, in his offering; ‘Lade Bonuola: The tree that made a forest’, noted; “As an editor and a skillful cultivator of the best and the brightest, Ladbone will be proportioned in greater signification far beyond the limiting confines of the newsroom. He is a man of the limitless universe, stripped of restriction to tribe, to nation, to creed, to the halting template of a singular philosophy”.
In an earlier tribute, Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Okey Ikechukwu, described Bonuola as; “a teacher, a student of life, a mentor without borders and a ‘gardener’ who has a water can at all times for nurturing people; professionally and otherwise. He is also a man of great insight and professional competence, as well as a moderator of the values of self-development for those who really understand him”.
These are testimonials borne of experience and direct contacts with Ladbone. They all speak of what he is – a good man!
Lade Bonuola, fondly called “Ladbone”, was born on October 22, 1946. He began his journalism career in 1971 at the Daily Times of Nigeria, the powerhouse of journalism at the time. It was there that he honed the discipline and competence that would define his career—his meticulous editing and insistence on linguistic and factual accuracy, which set him apart as the editor’s editor.
He rose rapidly to become Chief Sub-Editor, Deputy Production Editor and Ag. Features Editor/Member, Editorial Board of the Paper. Ladbone moved from the Daily Times in 1982 to become a founding member and pioneer Associate Editor of The Guardian. He became Editor, then Editor-in-Chief and, in 1989, Managing Director, a position he held until 1999. He can be said to have seen it all in the job.
This is to wish Oga, the Pen Master, more rewarding years ahead!
