Today’s Information For Tomorrow’s Use

BY OLOYE ‘LEKAN ALABI

Above was the theme of the launch of my book, “100 DAYS AGO”, on Thursday, 3rd November, 1988, by the then old Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Culture, the late Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun, inside the THEATRE of the OYS Ministry of  Information and Culture, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. 

I wish to borrow my 35-year old clichè as I now give a pip (yes, give a pip) to Sir Folu Olamiti’s new book, “A Peep Into The Past – an Oeuvre”, which was launched recently at the new International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. I was invited as a guest.

Folu and I first met as professional colleagues and friends 50 years ago, in 1973, at an assignment at the old site of the “ALLIANCE de FRANCÈ”, New Court Road, Gbagi, Ibadan, capital of the old Western State of Nigeria. I, as a newly-employed reporter/writer/reader of the now-defunct Sketch Publishing Company Limited, Ibadan and Sir Folu, a year earlier, by the African Newspapers of Nigeria Limited (ANNL) publishers of the Tribune titles.

On the same assignment that day in 1973, for their individual media houses, were Eric Teniola (Punch), Toye Akiyode (WNTV-WNBS) and the late Richard Amayo (Nigerian Observer). A lot of cool water has since passed, and is still passing, under our bridges.

Thank God.

*Senior Chief Lekan Alabi is the Maye of Olubadan of Ibadanland.

 

Captions.       

Pic 1:

35 years ago….. The late Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun presenting my 1988 book, “100 Days Ago”, authored by me to mark the 100th day in office of the fourth governor of old Oyo State whom I served as the Press Secretary, the late Brigadier-General Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya. Actually, his three predecessors were the late Chief ‘Bola Ige, SAN, the first Executive Governor of old Oyo State (1979 to 1983), retired Major-General Oladayo Popoola (1984 to 1985) and the late Brigadier-General Adetunji Idowu Olurin (1985 to 1988).

 

Pic 2:

In the last two weeks of my tenure in office as Press Secretary to Governor Oresanya, I volunteered to show the ropes to my successor, Mr. Tunde Olubunmi. On Wednesday, 19th March, 1989, I led Mr. Osunbunmi to the Tribune Newspapers Office, Imalefalaafia, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State, where we were both received by Messrs Biodun Oduwole and Folu Olamiti. 

           

Pic 3:

Cover of the book, “FOLU….Epitome of Perseverance”, authored by Messrs Toye Akinrinlola and Tunde Babalola in  1995.