Sketch, Tribune, And The Battle For Democracy: A Journalist’s Recollection

For the Record:

…Tribute to Nigeria’s Unsung Media Warriors

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED 

It remains both painful and frustrating to witness how many of those who once stood firmly against democracy in Nigeria are now the ones basking in its rewards.

Back in the day, Tribune was under threat of being burned down, and Sketch Press was proscribed. Yet our management – resolute and fearless – rallied a few of us with the liver to keep the flame of truth alive.

We continued to publish Sketch Newspaper daily, right under the noses of the military authorities, who never figured out how we managed to do it.

It was no small feat, anyway.

We wrote, pasted, patched, and processed stories under the harshest conditions – often using candles for light and drawing strength from sheer willpower.

Our then Managing Director, Mr. Oyegbemi, was a rock. He constantly inspired us, reminding us that our labour wasn’t just for the present, but for the future of our beloved country.

Without sounding immodest, Wale Ademowo, formerly of the Nigerian Tribune and I were among the most prominent faces in the South West media landscape at the time. Wale held things down at the Oke-Ado based Tribune, and I was anchoring Sketch at Cocoa House area of Ibadan.

Our Entertainment and Society columns resonated widely – not just in Ibadan, but even in Lagos, where our colleagues frequently invited us to headline events.

Our influence didn’t go unnoticed. Within the industry, we earned nicknames – “The Ibadan Media Mafia” and, to some, “South West Media Gurus.”

So, when Dele Momodu had the opportunity to launch MKO Abiola’s Hope ’93 campaign, it was no surprise he reached out to both Wale and Yours Truly to attend that historic media parley at his Ojodu residence in Lagos.

It was during that memorable event that MKO’s political slogan, Hope ’93, was officially unveiled. And we were appointed members of the Media Sub-Committee for Hope ’93, and we delivered.

In his remarks, Dele Momodu expressed heartfelt appreciation for our presence – despite our tight schedules and the long journey from Ibadan. He said he had no doubt in our ability to champion the Hope ’93 message across the South West and beyond – because we had always used our platforms for causes larger than ourselves.

We were given Hope ’93 stickers – I remember proudly pasting mine on my Honda Accord X. Wale and I drove to several events in Lagos with that sticker before making our return trip to Ibadan via Sango-Ota and Abeokuta, three days later.

Truly, Wale and I didn’t just carry the message of Hope ’93, but we were the first to unveiled its sticker in the South West – and we embodied it and delivered it through the pages of Sketch and Tribune to the people of Ibadan and the wider South West.

My deepest thanks to the management and staff of both Sketch and Tribune for supporting Wale and I, and providing the platforms to excel during those trying times.

That said, the only “benefit” we truly received from that era was the applause and recognition – while it lasted.

Now, in the spirit of justice, remembrance, and national gratitude, I strongly believe the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration should extend its honour and compensation to those media professionals and houses – especially in the South West – who stood fearlessly in defense of democracy during Nigeria’s darkest days.

Sketch Press Ltd. and Tribune newspapers, and others deserve special recognition for their unwavering courage and sacrifice in those turbulent times.

Much can still be said about the advent of democracy and the decisive role the Nigerian media played in making it possible.

Unfortunately, those who went underground during the storm have now claimed the sunshine, sidelining the voices that fought for it with pens, paper, and purpose.

Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword!