By Lasisi Olagunju
“The bearer is from me, pls give him adequate audience” was the ten-word inscription on the complimentary card I took to him. Mr. Folu Olamiti was the editor of the Nigerian Tribune. He read the message in a second, looked up and asked me what the matter was. I told him I wanted to work in Tribune.
“Work in Tribune? What are your qualifications?”
I answered him with my degree certificate. He collected it, took a glance, then looked again.
“Ah. We will take you,” he declared and asked me to go sit with his secretary, Dupe, who was also remarkably warm. He needed some time to sort out some things in his office.
I waited. He came out and said I should follow him. He took me up a staircase, then turned left, walked like five steps, stopped and opened a door.
“M.E.” he called through the doorway. “I met this guy, he made a First Class in English. I think we should take him.” He said and handed me over properly to M.E.
‘M.E’ turned out to be the acronym for ‘Managing Editor.’ The big masquerade holding that office was Mr Biodun Oduwole who showed an electrifyingly keen interest in me immediately. From that point, the two of them adopted me as their boy (something very unusual). I got the job almost immediately. The remaining part of that story will be told somehow someday.
The day I assumed duty was Oga Folu’s last day as Editor, Nigerian Tribune. He had been elevated to the position of Executive Director, Operations. But his interest in how I did my work remained unflagging throughout the years we spent together in Tribune House. The relationship has remained boss and boy till today.
Oga Olamiti is 70 today. His boys and beneficiaries are everywhere, in usual and unusual places. He did (and still does) good to so many people, including me. Therefore, goodness and mercy shall continue to follow him all his life.
Congratulations, sir.
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Perfect. That's the man Folu Olamiti, my one-time immediate boss. I was his deputy editor. Easy going, but sharp. You were also very correct about Biodun "who showed an electrifyingly keen interest" in you immediately. These two were teammates. I worked very closely with them on the Nigerian Tribune's Editorial Board as Secretary. With his sharp brains and journalistic prowess, I am not surprised Mr. Olamiti went on to become Executive Director, Operations, of ANN (African Newspapers of NIgeria). I heard Biodun is a pastor or so. Handsome chap, very witty. It took grace to float ahead of his schemes. I wish him the best. I remember him asking me 9 pm once to prepare for a promotion interview at 9 the following morning. Just imagine! I learnt later that others had been informed in advance to prepare for the same interview. What Biodun did not know was that God had revealed the interview to me in a dream three months earlier. I had discussed and prayed over it with Segun Olatunji, a colleague in the office, and filed it away. Well, He knows how I fared in that interview and what happened after. Folu should be turning 70 this year. I am clocking 72, too. God has been good to us all. But how I yearn to see Oga Folu eyeball-to-eyeball once more. That will be the day. But the times and seasons are not ours; they belong to God who directs our movements per His will and to our good. His divine will shall be done.