By Lanre Idowu
Mr. Felix Adenaike, the one we fondly call “Uncle Felix” is 80 today. As it was ten years ago, there isn’t much fuss about the celebration. I have read the congratulatory message sent to him by President Muhammadu Buhari and one or two media mentions. It is tempting to blame the current COVID-19 menace on the lack of media adulation for this media icon. But such thought would be misplaced. Even when he turned 70 a decade ago, he marked it with a modest garden party befitting his image of an austere, disciplined soul.
Wherever he is today, he would probably just go on his knees to thank his Maker for His faithfulness these past eight decades. I join his admirers in congratulating him on joining the cherished club of octogenarians. I pray that in his old age, the Lord would continue to be gracious to him.
Let me share some of the things I said of him ten years ago after attending his birthday party as captured on pages 274-275 of my book, Media On My Mind.
“I met the celebrant on the dance floor, swaying to the drumbeats with (Gbenga) Adefaye and two Ife chiefs. He interrupted his dance to usher me to a seat in his commodious garden. The food and drinks were adequate, the music decibel tolerable. The party reflected the man: organized, but not lavish. Watching him as he moved round to ensure his guests were comfortable, I went down memory lane. I remembered two visits to his Ibadan offices at the Tribune in the 80s and Syndicated Communications in the 90s. Everything was so neat and organized.
A former teacher and headmaster, Adenaike had worked in the Information ministry before joining the Daily Times as a feature and leader writer. He was a senior correspondent with the London-based West Africa, district manager, west, with the Times, CEO/editor-in-chief with the Sketch and editor-in-chief at Tribune, before establishing his communications consultancy.
It is difficult to discuss Adenaike (Uncle Felix) without reference to his late friend, Mr. Peter Ajayi, and Chief Segun Osoba. I recall a crucial meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria on April 8, 1987, to discuss the proscription of Newswatch magazine held at the Daily Times. Mr. Osoba, managing director of the Daily Times, was also the NPAN president and chief host. A useful working statement had been drafted by the secretary, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, then of The Guardian, on the NPAN position. Many hairs, fuelled by all sorts of undercurrents, were being split on the precise wording as everybody played wordsmith. When it appeared agreement was not forthcoming, Uncle Felix saved the day. He had been quietly running his pen on the draft. When he read his expanded version the matter was settled to the enthusiastic cheers of members led by Mr. Ajayi.
I shared the privileged company of Uncle Felix and Uncle Peter in December 2003 when we were all made fellows of the Guild of Editors. And I was with both of them in December 2008 at the NUJ Press Club, Ibadan where we discussed journalism, book publishing, and nation-building.
Adenaike, Ajayi, and Osoba were the famed three musketeers of Nigerian journalism that blossomed in the mid-70s through 1990. All trod a similar professional path. Osoba and Adenaike had worked together at the Times in the early 70s. When Osoba and Ajayi served as general manager and editor respectively at Herald, Adenaike was CEO Sketch. When Adenaike was editor-in-chief at the Tribune in the 80s, Osoba and Ajayi were CEO and general manager respectively at the Sketch. So, at various times their commonality of interests forged a professional bonding, personal friendship, and political collaboration, which ventilated the West’s interests in Nigerian journalism.
As I observed in a tribute to Ajayi last October (2009), ‘They did not pretend to be neutral but they were fair and vigorous in articulating their viewpoints…’ Osoba was visible at the party; he supervised the cake cutting, reminding everyone of Adenaike’s cognomen as GOC-General Officer Commanding; an endearing reference to his strict managerial skills, which earned him the awe and respect of his colleagues.”
Happy birthday, Uncle Felix.
