By Banji Ayoola
Remains of the pioneer Chairman and Chief Executive of Owena Press Limited, Publisher of Ondo State Government-owned Newspaper, The Hope, Mr Bode Betiku, will be interred in his Ondo City home on July 2.
The fearless, flamboyant, meticulous, brilliant, no nonsense, go getter veteran journalist, public relations and marketing wizard popularly called ‘Uncle B’ in his hey days as a top rank marketing officer at the flagship of the Nigerian media, The Guardian, in the 80s and lately ‘Hammer Head’ after his celebrated column in his personal weekly newspaper, Compass Mail, which rankled the then government of the day before he was appointed by the Olusegun Mimiko administration to head The Hope, died at 69 on Saturday during an illness.
According to the widow, Ibiyemi, the departed Betiku had “been sick for a while since December last year. We have been in and out of the house. At times we spent five and 11 days in the hospital until this last time. We were there for three weeks. He went into coma on June 12 and he didn’t come around until his last breath.”
She said: “I thank God for his life and the memories he left behind, all the good deeds he has done for people are the only consolation we had for him.”
She spoke during a condolence visit by the Management of The Hope, thanking the incumbent Chairman and Editor in Chief, Sir Ademola Adetula, the Management and Staff of the company for their love for the family.
Mrs Ibiyemi Bode-Betiku said: “I know how diligently the staff of Owena Press worked with my husband when he was there with you for eight years.
“I know how he took you as his own. You loved him when he was there and after he left. He was always with you even after he left the place and also talking about the newspaper.
The son, Bababunmi, also appreciated the Management and Staff for the condolence visit to identify with the family in their hours of grief.
While commiserating with the family, Adetula said the company received with shock Betiku’s untimely death, assuring that the company would actively participate in the funeral ceremonies.
He described his predecessor as a fearless journalist and a man of tough mettle who brought discipline and brilliant ideas to the company, saying: “His various articles under the Hammer Head imprint elicited controversies for public agenda and discussion.
“The company joins his admirers to mourn a go-getter who accomplished whatever he set for himself and pursued his political objectives with utmost doggedness.”
He added that Betiku would be remembered for his commitment to the revival of both Owena Press Limited and the Government Printing Press which he managed together during his tenure.
He was represented by the company’s Administrative Manager, Mr. Kole Akinjeji.
In his own condolence, a former Managing Director of the company and Betiku’s predecessor, Mr Osewole Modupe, prayed that the Almighty Father would pave the way for the deceased and grant him all necessary help on his path.
Also, the chairman of the paper’s Editorial Board, Dr. Gbenga Abimbola, in his condolence to the Management and Staff of the newspaper house, described the deceased chairman’s death as a huge loss to his family, the print media industry and the state at large.
He said Betiku would be remembered for his bold, daring and goal getting spirit he exhibited in all places he had worked.
Reacting, the publisher of The Radiance Newspaper and a former Editor of The Hope during Betiku’s tenure, Mr Banji Ayoola, said: “I accompany him with my loving thoughts and wishes.
“May he find help on his path into the Beyond; and may he be open to recognise and grasp the loving help of the Almighty Father which, mercifully is extended to him at this very moment; the help that will, hopefully eventually lead him on higher towards the heights, upwards towards the Luminous Kingdom of the Most High and Almighty Father, towards the Light.”
Also, the Olujigba of Ijigba, Oba Luyi Rotimi, commiserated with the Management and Staff of Owena Press Limited and prayed for God’s protection for the deceased’s family.
Meanwhile, the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Ondo State chapter is celebrating Betiku for his immense contributions to the progress of the association especially when he seved as its Chairman between 2008 and 2012.
A top member of the association and a former member of the Editorial Board of The Hope during Betiku’s tenure, who is also an ex Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Dr (Mrs) Yemi Mahmud-Fasominu, posted on his Facebook wall that: “As the Chapter’s Chairman, he led Ondo State contingent to Minna 2009 where Ondo State bided and won hosting right for 2010 ANA International Convention.
“The conference, held in Akure under his leadership in 2010, is being acclaimed up till date as one of the best of ANA outings.”
Dr Mahmud-Fasominu had broken the news of Betiku’s passage on her Facebook page at 9.41 pm on June 19, hours after he passed on with a short message below his photograph: “You’re not mourned; you desired not to.”
Meanwhile, since his demise in the early hours of Saturday, Betiku’s Ondo City home has been playing host to numerous sympathisers, both high and low who throng the residence to pay their tributes.
Early callers include Dr Mahmud-Fasominu; a former Ondo State Commissioner for Public Complaints Commission, Mrs. Cecilia Fayase; and former Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, who wrote in the condolence register: “Bode Betiku fought the battle of life very well and fought on the right side of history.”
Reacting to the passage, a member of the Editorial Board of The Hope and a columnist with the newspaper also during Betiku’s tenure, Barrister Remigius Akinbinu, said: “I was shocked to hear the sad news. Bode Betiku was a brilliant, hardworking journalist and good family man. He introduced me to editorial journalism when he made me a member of the Editorial Board of The Hope Newspaper and later a columnist. He will be sorely missed.”
On his own, an ex Chairman, Ondo State Pensions Board, Mr. Reuben Akintunde said:” Egbon, goodnight. You were a trusted ally and a pillar that could be relied upon to break a rock. I only knew and became acquainted with you when we both served in the Mimiko government. But I quickly realised that you were a man to be trusted in anything you do or say.
“As the Chairman of Chairmen, you piloted the affairs of that Association with a blue print that made most of us to have inheritance in Akure Land. You kept reminding us that our position is not for ever and that when we leave office, if we do not do anything for ourselves, nobody will remember us.”
The deceased was reportedly hospitalised few days to his 69th birthday which came up on June 3 and spent about three weeks in a private hospital in Ondo City, where he eventually passed on on Saturday morning.
Betiku was the pioneer Chairman of the Ondo State owned newspaper, The Hope and Government Printing Press, during the eight years administration of former Mimiko administration.
He initially served as Editor of the newspaper between 2003 and 2005, in the administration of the late Dr Olusegun Agagu.
He studied Mass Communication at Norfolk State University, VA, United States of America and graduated in 1978.
On his return to Nigeria, he worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), The Guardian Newspaper and served as Media Consultant to many organisations before delving into politics during the glorious days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), where he served as the Ondo State Publicity Secretary of the party.
