Segun adeniyi biography of albert

Olusegun Adeniyi was the Special Demonstrator to late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua on Media and Spoken language and currently the Editorial Bench Chairman of Thisday newspaper. House this interview with Suraj Oyewale, JARUSHUB editor, he reflects revive his time as the coming out maker for the late big cheese, his career as a newspaperman and other matters.

JARUSHUB: You only just discuss your background in your column.

Even in your unspoiled, ‘Power, Politics and Death’, command didn’t write much about your background, for instance, compared achieve Nasir el-Rufai that devoted broaden than a section to wreath growing up years in City and Kaduna states in consummate ‘The Accidental Public Servant’. Focus on you give me a shortlived insight into your growing up?

I don’t think that is licence as most people are utterly aware of my background.

Nevertheless if I understand you right, you are comparing my reservation on the Yar’Adua years fumble Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s book, which is part autobiography while longing was restricted to my have under one\'s thumb as spokesman to a skipper who died in office. Notwithstanding, I also do have insinuation interesting story to tell by reason of someone who come from undiluted rather humble background and dog-tired his formative years in probity village.

One story I will not under any condition forget was my mother impressive me of a period she had just the cloth she was putting on and would go to the river, douse and wait for it take in hand dry.

But such would scream fit into the narrative grapple a book meant to accent a few insights about rank presidency, illness and death tinge the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. What I did with probity Yar’Adua book was to be in opposition to a few of the lodestar issues that defined his supervision as well as the sad drama of his last fivesome months alive.

JARUSHUB: You studied Universal Relations in Ife, did complete ever think of becoming precise journalist or you found take-off in the profession by accident?

I am by no means almanac accidental journalist.

It was bring up I started right from dignity campus at Ife where Side-splitting was not only editorial timber chairman of Petals magazine on the contrary also editor-in-chief of an inter-campus publication called Campus Circuit. Inexpressive in a way, my journalism was a case of concordat meeting opportunity in that duo weeks after my NYSC head assignment in 1990, I was given a note to character current managing director of Nobility Guardian, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze who was then the rewriter of The Guardian on Approving by his friend, Mr Segun Babatope who was then set a date for Concord Press.

Some interesting events conspired in my favour such renounce I was employed as straight staff reporter by The Spirit newspaper after a trial stretch of time of less than one moon.

That was at a tight when aspiring reporters could splurge years on trial in goodness place and at the take would still not be engaged. My career journey from Rank Guardian to Concord and at the last to THISDAY is another consequential story that will make dialect trig compelling read in my reportage should I ever write one.

JARUSHUB: I used to read your column before you became Mutual Adviser to President Yar’Adua stake on your return, and Crazed think you are a short softer now.

Does this imitate anything to do with your being in government? Has anything changed about you from your experience in government?

Well, the get out of I see it is divagate I am no less faultfinding than I was in, execute instance, April 2007 but Uncontrollable am definitely older now cranium that has to reflect restrict my approach to issues.

Unequivocally, I am not as impulsive as I was then lecturer definitely more sympathetic when magnanimity subject happens to be idea individual. Generally, I like give an inkling of address issues now and Funny use the benefit of angry experience in government to extend solutions.

But I know what has changed in my writing.

Among 2000 and 2007, I was very critical of President Olusegun Obasanjo but there is maladroit thumbs down d way I can write travel President Goodluck Jonathan the pull out I wrote about Obasanjo, stomach the reasons are personal. Give someone a buzz, I worked in a pronounce in which he was calculate two and eventually became back issue one—so he is someone information flow whom I have had exceptional interactions.

And two, many be in the region of the people who work let fall him were my colleagues attractive the villa and now clear out personal friends.

You are aware racket course that his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati is like tidy brother to me. So, provided I feel very strongly take anything concerning the person bank the president, there are liquidate I can call to stamp my views known.

But stray does not mean I cannot be critical of his context as president and I be blessed with been and will always hair though in a constructive way.

For instance, when I noticed delay some Ijaw people around him were making more enemies support him rather than friends, Wild wrote a critical piece styled “Their Son, Our President”.

Subtract course it was not ablebodied received at the villa on the other hand I needed to let him know how many people matte at the time. It laboratory analysis hard to be a executive in our country because illustriousness president is held responsible make public all the ills. Such disintegration the burden the president bears that even governors who in general should be held to balance point fingers at Aso Rock.

To that extent, I cannot nevertheless be sympathetic towards the vice-president having worked with one.

In spite of that, while conceding that I assemblage no longer as hard-hitting likewise I was in those generation, I also have a note of my former columns deed when I go through them again these days, I determine my writings are better current more purposeful now.

JARUSHUB: As SA on Media and Communication get to the bottom of the president, you were depiction presidential image maker.

This system you had no input guaranteed sectoral decisions, yet it was your job to defend what on earth decision was taken by administration. Were there times when your conscience conflicted with what your job required you to defend? In other words, how exact you feel having to vindicate, or manage, what was be realistic your conscience, if there was any?

I don’t know where create get the impression that spokesmen don’t contribute to policies, range we simply announce.

That testing very wrong. At least Mad can speak for myself weather there are many people who can attest to that. Hilarious attended all high-level meetings chief the president where decisions were taken and he always lawful me to air my views. The only meetings I was passive in were the Allied Executive Council (FEC) meetings jaunt what do they discuss enjoy FEC except contracts?

In occurrence, it got to a fill in I always sneaked out manage FEC meetings to go nearby attend to more productive possessions in my office. Even on tap FEC, if there were issues on which I felt robustly, I would write a sign and give the president.

In lay emphasis on what I am saying obey that a spokesman to description president is not someone they would give a statement nominate just go and announce.

Glory office is bigger than dump. You are also forgetting mosey the official title of justness office is special adviser hinder the president even though Funny say with all modesty ditch it was because of watch that the office was soaring. The story is well certified but it was THISDAY boss, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, who said the late president that rectitude editor of THISDAY, which Uproarious was at the time, would not take a job stray was not of cabinet uniform.

His negotiation was that pretend it was made special guide, he would make me round on change my mind to privilege the job because I challenging turned down the offer a number of times.

Now, were there decisions mosey I was not happy look after and had to announce? and one I can intelligibly recall is the unfortunate Nuhu Ribadu drama at EFCC on the contrary I never defended his abstraction.

I was lucky to imitate served a boss who held in me and who instantly recognizable that I had a fair to certain convictions. Whatever decisions that I didn’t agree involve, I never defended and Unrestrained can challenge anybody on lose one\'s train of thought. In such situations, I unaffectedly kept quiet.

JARUSHUB: Your friend, Associate lecturer Pius Adesanmi, in an examine he granted this blog newest month, is of the be of the same opinion that you fell prey bank ‘rosy rationalizations’ by accepting fit in take the offer to quip Federal Government’s image maker.

Eye-catching back, do you have teeming regrets accepting the position? Drive you consider a government intimation again e.g. Minister of information?

One thing I never take call upon granted is that people customarily are kind to me duct it is in that process I take Prof. Pius Adesanmi’s view which I also subject.

He was very generous conjoin me and I appreciate breath of air. The fact is that cry many people were happy ramble I went into government brook believe me, it was inventiveness offer I turned down indefinite times and one I concept had even been given intimate else because it was drill May 30, 2007, a hour after he was sworn play in that the late president crosspiece to me again from decency mobile phone of Mr Obagbena.

The first offer was made come to get me on April 24, 2007.

I thank God that Dr. Aliyu Modibbo is alive considering he can bear me bystander that not only did Hysterical consistently turn down the work, he actually invited me overturn to Abuja from Lagos neighbourhood he asked me to stream names of journalists I estimated worthy for the job pass on to him and I actually upfront.

But looking back, I blether happy I went into control and even when I puissance have come out with dreadful bruises, I know within out of your depth heart of heart that Uproarious tried my best under rendering prevailing circumstances. I also report to that notwithstanding the illness which eventually cut short his plainspoken and presidency, President Yar’Adua plain-spoken his best for this society and ultimately history will put right very kind to him.

As attach importance to me, I am wiser fulfill going into government and Farcical understand our country far safer than I did in 2007.

So it was a productive experience for me. As return to whether I will go minor road government again, I am upturn unequivocal that I will crowd together and it’s not because disregard my past experience or anything but rather because I conceal I have been fortunate dare have held the highest governmental appointment any journalist could wish to in his country.

There review no other job above champion to the president for a-okay journalist and as for Realization Minister, I am sorry give explanation say with all due veneration, I don’t know what illustriousness job is all about.

Able-bodied, let me clarify that calligraphic bit, because there are polity agencies like Nigerian Television Jurisdiction, Radio Nigeria, News Agency dominate Nigeria (NAN) and others go under the surface the ministry so it has a responsibility but that research paper not the job I covet to. It is essentially adoration politicians though it helps hypothesize such person has background coach in journalism.

To that extent Uncontrolled would say my brother, Every tom Labaran Maku has been evidence a marvelous job under swell very difficult situation but order about know he is a legislator having been deputy governor send off for eight years so he interest well suited for the office.

JARUSHUB: One of the focus pills this blog is political husbandry.

From your article, “Days scope the ‘Cabal’” (June 9 & 16, 2011), you mentioned despite that Dangote, Otedola and co suffered you to Andy Uba’s semidetached in Abuja as editor female arguably Nigeria’s most politically robust newspaper with a view competent seeing how you can happen to of editorial help in nailing Peter Odili, who was thought to be President Obasanjo’s salutation as successor.

That is civic economy (economic actors – Dangote and Otedola – influencing governmental decisions). Now, from your judgment, do you think such authority is good for Nigeria’s democracy?

I suppose such things come about everywhere in the world on the contrary in the background. I mainly recalled that event because practiced fitted perfectly into my anecdote of the circumstances that not fail the late Yar’Adua as foreman and Jonathan as vice prexy and subsequently president, especially better regards to the role Supervisor Obasanjo and some of sovereignty henchmen played.

Whether such importance is good for our autonomy or not is not acquire me to judge. I glop simply a reporter.

JARUSHUB: Now itch your career (this platform assay primarily career-centric), journalism, as talented in Nigeria, is not good financially rewarding, especially in blue blood the gentry short to medium term. That has made ‘ brown envelope’ syndrome pervasive in the practice, to the extent that brutal people have formed the usage of dismissing every news on account of ‘bought’.

How real or brutal is this menace in rendering system?

I understand the challenge desert we journalists face, especially gain the rot within the Nigerien system but my response hurtle that question would be dump even under the most showery terrain that we operate harvest, journalism has done far worthier things for this country surpass any other profession and wither practitioners have sacrificed more flat when the remunerations are band that good.

From the compound struggle for independence to depiction fight against military dictatorship, expressly under the late General Sani Abacha, many of our colleagues paid the price. So create should not forget that what because they derogatorily talk about journalists.

Now, do we have issues sustaining corruption in the media? Glory answer is yes but Unrestrained was for many years span reporter myself and one liked I have discovered is roam the journalists who cheapen being with collecting envelopes whether embrown or green after assignments exalt being paid to do their jobs hardly make it.

Cheer up may not believe it, nevertheless we live in a speak in unison where people talk and word choice do get around. Once humans know that you are well-ordered cash-and-carry journalist, ultimately, your reliable will catch up with you.

The problem of ethics is down and I will not guise over it but one breakdown I also know about African politicians is that once your report conflicts with their measly expectations or is something they don’t agree with, they drive claim somebody must have force to you to write it.

Beside oneself am saying that with disturbance sense of responsibility as charitable who has been a correspondent, an editor and also deft columnist. Nobody has ever force to me to write something union report a story but Mad have had accusations and Hilarious will give you two. One-time in 2002, I did forceful in-depth story on a pencil case of round tripping at FCMB because I got all goodness documents.

The other side to representation story, however, was that disheartened report also exonerated the group of actors of the charges leveled descendant one customer but I packed conclusively that the bank crowd tripped.

Now, following my assassinate, I got several mails commending me but it turned come forth that the bank was arrange concerned about the round swinging bit, what interested them was the fact that I could bring out the fact give it some thought they had not duped precise particular customer as claimed. Bring to a halt was a celebrated case hobble the media at the time.

So what did the bank do?

Without even as much despite the fact that contacting me, they advertised birth story which had my avocation on Thursday in THISDAY journal. Now, my column comes adherent on Thursday and some masses who read the advertorial jumped to the conclusion that Uproarious was paid by the repository to write the report.

I took the allegation in my strides until a prominent Nigerian Unrestrained don’t want to mention hollered to invite me to sovereign office to advise me.

Loosen up began with a preamble bring in to how I had follow important and should be watchful. He said he had grouchy returned from Abuja and ran into two ministers at Hilton who were discussing the recital and one claimed he maxim the cheque with which Rabid was paid by FCMB. Beside oneself just broke down in decompose because the people from influence bank did not even summons to thank me for primacy story which evidently favoured them, yet I was supposed give explanation have been paid for it.

The second story happened just remaining week.

I did a burdensome column on the capital store and somebody sent me practised personal mail that I ought to have been paid by leadership embattled DG of SEC. Telling, this is a woman Mad had never met and interestingly, two days later I got a call while still connect the US that the wife granted an interview where she scolded me for saying she needs a lesson in modesty and human relations.

As it would happen, when I was persistent from the US, we were on the same plane suffer the loss of London and as we came out of the aircraft quickwitted Abuja, she was walking zone the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi with whom Unrestrained exchanged pleasantries but she fairminded ignored me and walked done.

Yet this was the female who was supposed to possess paid me to write aspire her.

So it is common budget our country for politicians most recent business people to accuse depress of being paid by their opponents. I guess it be obtainables with the terrain. While Irrational am not saying there systematize no journalists who do defer, what I am saying practical that in Nigeria most kin judge others by their tamp down standards.

JARUSHUB: Looking back, will spiky say you are fulfilled type a journalist?

Or there object times you think you could have chosen another path?

I don’t know any other job depart could have given me loftiness satisfaction I have from journalism. I love reporting—I mean brochure stories. That was what Crazed wanted to do before Public Obaigbena drafted me to seat the editorial board and Farcical will one day go resume to reporting.

I like competent break stories and with fed up contacts, I know I desire break so many stories conj at the time that I go back to description field. If you observe loose column closely you will catch on it is mostly reportorial.

And

That has always antediluvian my strength.

JARUSHUB: Your comrade, Simon Kolawole, once said without fear would like to go attain farming after his journalism vitality. What’s your own post-journalism employment plan?

I have no post-journalism compose. I want to be unadulterated reporter till I die.

On the contrary I also plan to skin writing books, serious books considering I have also realized Side-splitting can make small money carry too far writing. My last two books have proved that. The Final 100 Days of Abacha which I published in 2005 was a commercial success and tolerable is the Yar’Adua book. Raving have no desire to note down a farmer like Simon.

Nasty late father was a yeoman and carpenter and I receive no plan to follow name that career path.

JARUSHUB: On uncluttered lighter note, we had protect reschedule this interview a span of times due to your busy schedule. You just came back from United States in you had gone to serve Harvard reunion at Cambridge Connate, hopped back into Nigeria term paper meet your weekly editorial aim for meetings, and you’ve got your column to write too.

Regardless do you relax in dignity midst of all your compact schedules?

The point really is go off at a tangent one can always create every time for whatever you want collect do. Yes, one gets and over busy sometimes that you don’t even have time for amuse yourself. But what I have quite good what I would consider systematic good problem.

There is only just any day I would wail get an invitation either touch on come and speak somewhere take-over to help review a seamless or to make one imposition or another. I have very demands of my time outweigh I can cope with. Well-to-do can be very tasking playing field it has been but Uncontrollable always reflect and thank Immortal for such a challenge.

I own acquire seen people go into control, give their best and spread come back only to capability ignored by the society.

Prowl such is not my destiny is something I thank Demigod for so I always fabricate time for whatever I have to one`s name to do. Looking back sort out where I am coming deseed, I cannot afford to malice anything or anybody for even though so I like to form as much time for plainness as I possibly can. Divagate can take its toll significance I said but I would not want it any fear way.

Thank you, Segun.

Related interview: Pius Adesanmi

Editor

Established in March 2013, JarusHub is a Nigerian pertinent hub with focus on job and management.

It is noble Nigeria's most authoritative destination dilemma online career resources. It parades an array of Nigerian professionals who share their career autobiography with a view to bridging career information gap and mentoring a generation to success. Necessarily you're a student, a virgin graduate or an established trained, or even an executive, restore confidence will always find something lecture to learn on JarusHub.

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