How I got into Journalism

September 14, 2009 adminInterviews, Media

Interview by Funsho Arogundade and Bolanle Sokunbi published in THE WEEK MAGAZINE, VOL. 30, NO.2, of SEPTEMBER 14, 2009.

Prince Tony Momoh, veteran Journalist and Lawyer is a man whose thought and progressive views on national issues are remarkable. He is reputed for his contributions to the growth of journalism profession in Nigeria. The prince from the prominent and large Momoh family of Auchi, Edo State clocked the age 70 on April 27, 2009. Rather than roll out drums to celebrate, the former information and culture Minister under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida opted to delay the celebration until a book on him, which for seven years had been in the works, was ready for presentation. The book, Prince Tony Momoh; A National Bibliotherapist and Cultural Engineer was anchored by Dr. Andrew Okwilagwe, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan. 

In this riveting 90-minutes interview with THEWEEK’S Funsho Arogundade andBolade Sokunbi the former minister explains his relationship with former President Ibrahim Babangida, late Dele Giwa and other important national issues. As usual, the former editor of Daily Times provided his ready made response to our questions. Excerpts.

Congratulations sir on your birthday. How do you feel attaining the age of 70?

When people ask me how I feel at 70, I laugh because you are asking me about the age of a cloth. The body you wear is a cloth which the Almighty has given you to use on earth. Without this body, you cannot manifest on this earth.

So I look at this body from the perspective of the wearer. I, Tony Momoh. I am the wearer of this body, like the cloth the body itself wears which can be dropped. This cloth, this body, can be dropped and is dropped at physical death to return to the earth, the dust it is made of.

I, the wearer, I am ageless, eternal. I am not a native of this earth. When I drop the body, I return to where I came from, what people call the Beyond.

I can tell you then that the age of my body is 70 years. But I, myself, I sense and carry in my mind age 35.

You are not known for celebrating your birthday. What is so significant about the age 70 you are celebrating this time around?

I’m not celebrating my birthday. My birthday is April 27. April 26 was a Sunday. What I did then was to host my club members, the Etsako Club 81 members. I hosted them because those born in a particular month host the meeting for that month in the home of one of them. This is what I did and nothing more.

What I was going to celebrate was the book that was written with me as a peg. Work on the book lasted seven years. There are three other books written by me that would also be presented.

Tony Momoh at 70 project is basically the presentation of that book, Tony Momoh, A National Bibliotherapist and Cultural Engineer.

This book is going to be presented along with three other books written by me. They are Democracy Watch, A Monitor’s Diary Vol.1 and 2 and Tony Momoh Spiritual Essays. The Democracy Watch handles the agenda-setting role the media must undertake in performing its constitutional duty to monitor governance. I have done so since November 1999 every week.

How did you start practicing journalism.

I came to Lagos in 1962 and then wrote applications. The most important one was to the Daily Times.Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose was the editor of the paper. I called at the office a couple of times, and got to be liked by his personal secretary Mr. Giwa.

One day Giwa told me a letter had been sent to me in response to my application for a job. I said, “saying what?”

He said, “saying there is no job.”

Then I said, “I want to see the editor.”

Eventually Alhaji came out of his office, and I said, “Sir, I have written an application looking for a job here…”

He said, “Yes, we have written to you saying there is no job.”

I told him, Sir, I know your headache, sir.”

He said, “My headache? What is my headache? “

I said. “It is because I don’t have experienceand that is why you say there is no job. I have not done this job before…”

He said, “Yes. You have no experience…”

I said, “Sir, you know that you are known all over the world today because someone gave you the chance. Give me that chance for one month, don’t even pay me. If I don’t impress you, sack me.,,”

And I added, “If you don’t give me this chance, when I grow up and get married and have children, I will tell my children that I wanted to be a journalist but Alhaji Jose denied me the opportunity.”

He said, “You dare not do that.”.

I said, “Then give me a job…”

And he gave me the job.

“Where do you want to start?” he asked me.

“From the very scratch”, I said.

He gave me a job of trainee sub-editor.  He promised he would train me And he did.

When I was applying to go to university in 1964, I had to list three courses in order of preference. My first choice was Journalism, the second was journalism; and the third was journalism.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka was the only institution offering journalism as at that time and it was the only institution I applied to. During my last year at Nsukka, that was 1966/67, there was a problem in the East that later led to the civil war

Non-Easterners were all thrown out of the East. So we went to the University of Lagos where a programme was arranged for us to complete the degree course in mass communication.

Later I read law at the same university, went to Law School and was called to the Bar in 1975. I read law because I wanted to strengthen my grasp of the profession I had chosen to pursue in life, that is journalism.

Many people don’t know that when I became the editor of Daily Times in 1976, I was already a lawyer.I was the first lawyer to edit the Daily Times.

IBB is somebody that is viewed from different perspectives. How was your experience with him?

Very exciting, and very busy. That was one of the busiest times I ever had in my life. From day to day I was busy. Everyday I had to see people from morning till evening.

I don’t know if any other person has done it but I know nobody did it before me. I visited all the states of the Federation three times in three years.

I always spoke at about 13 locations in each state – the governor’s office, the state chairman of the council of traditional rulers, the federal ministry of information and culture offices, state ministries, newspaper, television and radio interviews and finally the press centre where I rounded off the tour.

How would you describe General Babangida?

Let me tell you what I have not told people. When I was minister, if there was anything going wrong, I would reach out to Babangida and say “One On One Sir.” By One On One, I meant two of us.

When we first met on One On One basis, I told him, “Sir, I would request that when I ask you for a One On One audience, you grant it. Only two of us will be there. You will please not at that time see yourself as president nor would I see me as your minister. I won’t abuse that privilege…”

I took that opportunity, which I must confess was never abused in the four years I was there, to tell him what was going wrong where I believed something was not just right.

He listened and did not ever ignore what I advised should be done.

Babangida is someone who consults widely.

Before I became a minister, I was part of the team from the Daily Times that went to Dodan Barracks to interview him. I was general manager of Times Publications Division and Chief Segun Osoba was managing director.

The editor, Farouk Mohammed, had asked for the interview. The managing director thought I should come along, and I did.

When IBB came into the interview room, he patted me on the back and said “Tony! How are you?”

I had never met him face to face before. He is a very kind man.

There was an occasion when he walked to one of the reporters in the presidential villa, and said “Happy Birthday.” Many of the reporter’s colleagues did not know that day was his birthday.

IBB just removed his gold watch from his hand and handed it to the reporter!

Some people say he institutionalized corruption…

I am not aware whether he was corrupt or not. There was nothing in the brief I had as a minister that said I should collect a percentage of the contract awarded to anyone and divert the money to any person or body of persons.

My second letter to my countrymen was titled, Corruption in High Places, and in there, I said that anyone who is corrupt opted for a personal agenda to be corrupt.

I was not the minister of finance but I am aware that not one of the total of 45 ministers who worked during his tenure was later called to explain any wrong-doing.

The most notable incident during your tenure was the death of Dele Giwa…

(Cuts in), In fact when I heard of the death and rushed to the office of Newswatch, then to the hospital where he had been taken to and saw the body, I was shattered.

The fact is that I was Dele’s next of kin and I was instrumental to bringing him from America back to Nigeria. And I was the one who introduced Dele Giwa to the Nigerian public because as editor of the Daily Times, I made him features editor and agreed that he should write three times a week! I even bought him a typewriter.

I was very close to him. We are from the same part of Edo State.

The fact is that a parcel bomb was delivered to Dele Giwa at his residence. Someone did it and that someone may think that he will hide forever. But there is no hiding place in Creation for anyone, for any deed, be it in word, in thought or in physically manifested action like the parcel bomb.

I said then and will continue to say, it is the work of the police to look for and arrest and prosecute someone who has committed a crime. Those who know anything about his death are the ones to give you information about his killer.

Nigeria's music industry needs surgery, says Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade, Juju music legend, recently clocked 68 and had a small reception for close family and friends in his palatial country home in Ondo, western Nigeria. The King of World Beats took time off to speak to FUNSHO AROGUNDADE about his life, music and state of the Nigerian music industry

Q: How do you feel turning 68?

I feel great and I thank God for making me see another year. It gives me an awesome feeling that between my last birthday and now, I had no cause to visit hospital to complain of any ailment. Also the music has not stopped for a bit. I thank and appreciate Almighty God.

In spite of your busy schedule, you still look very fit

I have no choice than to be very fit. Performing on stage for hours back-to-back almost every day is an exercise on its own. Besides, in my home here, I have a swimming pool, squash court, basketball court and tennis court. I also play golf. We now have a golf course very close to us, in Idanre. The golf course in Akure has been taken over by the Army. All these keep me fit and trim.

Do you go on holiday at all?

I do ask for it but you people would not allow me to have one. But I am planning to have one soon.

What about medical check-up?

I normally go for medical check-up abroad twice in a year. But in the last one year I have not done that. But any time I feel funny, I always put a call to my doctor over there.
You will be 70 in two years. [We] learnt you are planning something grand to celebrate that landmark.
First and foremost, we need to commit our lives into God’s hands to spare us beyond that time. I am used to planning my things very well and always ensuring that everything is put in a right perspective. Definitely, I will celebrate when the time comes, but to tell you the plans now will not be appropriate.

How has it been since you moved to Ondo?

Let me correct that; I spend more time in Lagos than Ondo. My businesses and immediate family are in Lagos. What I told you last year was that I would be moving back home gradually. I plan to be spending more time in Ondo and this will be gradual.

Lately, you are being seen more with many of these new generation artistes. Are we expecting any major collaboration between you and some of them?

I cannot tell you about [collaborations] for now. But I must confess that I find their company very stimulating. Just recently, I was with some of these boys, including Olamide and Wizkid, at Mo Abudu’s 50th birthday. We were like a family. If any of them I willing to have collaboration with me, they are welcome. I love all of them and that’s why they all call me their father.

Many were stunned with your perfect combination with D’Banj at the last Glo Evergreen Series in Lagos. Did you rehearse that gig or was it happenstance?

To tell you the truth, we never rehearsed that D’Banj’s song, Mobomowonlowo. In fact, I knew little about the song prior to that night. But when he came to meet me behind the stage, we both listened to the song and I told him where I would come in during the performance. We thank God that everything went well that day. But what actually happened that we could not meet to rehearse was that days leading to that event, I was busy with some projects in Abuja, while D’Banj, I learnt, was in South Africa and also came in a few days to the event.

Last year you were part of the first season of Coke Studio Africa but looking at the roll call of artistes involved in the second season this year, your name is missing. What happened?

There is no problem. Last year I was invited to Kenya to be part of the first season of that wonderful project and we all had a wonderful experience. But this new season, maybe the organisers wanted to give other artistes opportunity to share in the experience. You know there are many talented artistes in Africa and they may want to spread the opportunity round. Maybe next time they can still bring me back; you can never tell.

What is your general view of the present state of Nigerian music industry?

Firstly, I thank God that we have been able to make our own brand of music acceptable to our people. Gone are those days when our people showed preference to foreign music; things are changing fast. Also the young musicians themselves have evolved their own styles and no longer copy their foreign counterparts. Most of our musicians are now picking from either Juju or Fuji music to create their individual music style. This means Nigerian musicians are working very hard. Secondly, many parents now allow and support their children to play music, unlike when we started. This shows there is a positive progression in the industry.

What are the challenges running a big band like the Golden Mercury of Africa?

Well, let me explain what a big band is. A big band starts from five. But I have a 50-member band. At every point in time on stage, we have about 23 members plus two engineers, making it 25. Sometimes we could have like five dancers, making 30. We have about 10 roadies, and if we are going to use the stage, the lights and those with the two trucks that we normally use, we would be going to 50. It depends on the venue of our shows. If it is a hall, we have a smaller band. But if you put us outside, like a stadium, we use our complete band. So, I will say it is not easy to move a big band. The economy is not so friendly and this affects us also. I have been so used to a big band and it is very difficult to adjust to something smaller so that it won’t affect the qualities of music that we give to our people.

What about when you travel to play at foreign gigs, do you still travel with such large numbers of band members?

In the 1980s and 1990s, I used to travel abroad with about 27 to 28 members. But now, we have had to cut down the numbers of our band members travelling abroad for shows to below 20.

During some of your musical tours abroad, have you had the experience of some of your band members absconding?

Yes, I have. But I usually tell my band members that if you are travelling with a band to go and perform abroad, and you are planning to escape, if care is not taken you will be a loser. The moment you are there and your visa expires, the police will be after you. And once they catch you, you are deported home. And once you are back home, you can never join the band again. Most of the people who absconded in the past are now home.

Doing what?

I don’t know. I never bother to find out. I have warned most of them before. I told them that it is better to be at home and live with what we get here. There is no place like home. A lot of things that we take for granted here, you can’t try it overseas. We can do a lot of things with the little that we have here. In fact, it pays them more because for a musician like me, once I travel, I play nearly every day except on Monday. It is by God’s grace. The moment promoters abroad are aware that we are coming abroad on tour, they engage us for more shows and that is extra something for them.

What is your take on the sliding relevance of Juju music in Nigeria?

Let me say that it is not only Juju music that is confronted with that challenge but other traditional genres too. I believe generally, Nigerian music industry needs surgery. Nevertheless, there are some challenges facing our genre. Running a band is a very expensive venture. Look at it this way: given the Nigerian economy, how many musicians can afford to buy musical instruments for their bands? It is just few, because to buy a very good guitar will cost you nothing less than N60,000, except you just need an anyhow guitar. Most of the instruments do not come cheap. In fact, most of us rent some of the instruments; and they also don’t come cheap as well. They come in different categories and rental prices range from N500,000 to N1 million.

You are a Juju music maestro but in the global music scene, your brand of music is categorised as ‘World Beats’. Why did you agree to that categorisation?

When I was given that title as the King of World Beats, I did explain this question. When African music started gaining recognition at the international level, it was very difficult for them to categorise our kind of music. And essentially, because of my own music they now created World Beats. They noticed that if there is a Jazz festival, I would be there and perform very well. Rhythm and Blues or Soul concerts, I will be there. At Reggae festival, I will be there. In fact, I was the first Nigerian musician to play at the Reggae Sunsplash. So this sort of confounded them. They initially categorised me into the Cross Over but it didn’t sit well until they came up with World Beats; and World Beats fits well.

As a master guitarist, have you ever been inspired to fashion out your own guitar as many other prominent guitarist the world over do?

Yes, it’s true that I have my own style of playing the guitar. I have my special line. If I place my guitar here and if you are a guitarist, you can’t play it because of the way I tuned it. You have to study it to be able to play it. I have my own special line of guitar. I have my own creation of guitar. That was why some years ago I was recognised as number 68 master guitarist in the whole world.

There was a time you and famous Carlos Santana were described in the same line.
Yes, that is true.

Have you both met?
Yes. We are friends.

Can both of you play each other’s guitar?

If Carlos drops his guitar, I will try my best. If I drop mine, when he picks it he will see how I tuned it. He plays zone on regular and mine is open chord.

Are you planning to work together?
Yes, but he has just been inducted into the Music Hall of Fame and we are still celebrating that achievement. Maybe later we will still get down to think of future collaboration.

This interview was first published by TheNEWS magazine in 29 September 2014

MTN Nigeria begins 4G LTE internet services trial

MTN Nigeria’s subsidiary, Visafone, has commenced the test-run of its fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) internet technology service for smartphone users.

MTN said in a statement on Thursday that the roll-out of the 4G LTE services would help provide superior high-speed internet services in major cities to empower Nigerians with the latest mobile broadband technology.

MTN executive, Amina Oyagbola, said the company was determined to deepen broadband penetration in the country.

“Our recent license acquisition further demonstrates our faith in the future of Nigeria,” Mrs. Oyagbola said. “We believe in supporting the positive transformation of Nigeria and we have demonstrated this belief through the level of our investment since 2001, which currently stands at approximately $16 billion.”

General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, said the specifics of the test-run and subsequent launch of the 4G LTE technology would be launched with the sole objective of providing Nigerians with “the best, fastest and most competitive ICT services for all stakeholders”.

He said MTN Nigeria was pleased to set the pace and breaking new boundaries with the test run, which would be available for now for only Visafone customers, currently provisioned on the 800 MHz band.

“When we roll-out fully, especially with our 2.6 GHz spectrum, the launch will help to enhance customer experience for our over 60 million subscribers, while ensuring greater coverage, access, affordability and ultimately a smart lifestyle for everyone,” he said.

He said the 4G LTE roll-out was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to accelerate the achievement of the country’s targeted broadband penetration by 2018.

Dangote Refinery ’ll resolve fuel supply challenge –Ambode

Ambode with Eyadama after visit to Dangote Refinery

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, said the Dangote Refinery being developed at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will surely resolve fuel supply challenge in the West African region.

 He said the refinery being sited in Lagos was another confirmation that Lagos is a prime investment destination, as the project would positively change the face of oil and gas business in the West African region.
Ambode, who spoke at the LFTZ during an extensive inspection tour of the Dangote Refinery by the Togolese President, Mr Faure Gnassingbe, said the refinery eloquently attests to the fact that there is a positive investment climate in Lagos which has resulted in massive investor confidence.
“This investment (Dangote Refinery) is one of the biggest in Africa today and will have a huge impact on the economy of not only Nigeria but the whole of West African region. This refinery, when completed, will be the largest single line refinery anywhere in the world refining 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily. Apart from creating jobs, this refinery will contribute immensely to solving the fuel supply challenge in the West African region,” he said.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work done on the project so far, saying that he was happy that a lot of progress had been made, while commending Dangote for his vision, doggedness and unwavering desire to contribute positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy, as well as his confidence in the Lagos economy.

Ambode said aside the fact that the project confirmed the positive investment climate in Lagos which had resulted in massive investor confidence, he also strongly believed that the future prosperity of West Africa was in collaboration between government and investors, which was why his administration had been working hard to encourage investment in the State.

He reiterated that Lagos was home to all nations, races and creeds, including substantial Togolese population, adding: “I’m positive that we are providing them with the opportunities to get ahead in their endeavors.”

Ambode said as a prominent Head of State in the West African region, he was not oblivious of the interest of President Gnassingbe in the Dangote Refinery, adding that the project was one of the emerging opportunities in Lagos State.

While inviting Togolese investors to take advantage of the positive investment climate in Lagos, the governor said the State was open for businesses, and that his administration, in a bid to encourage investment, had massively invested in infrastructure and security of lives and property.
“Lagos is open for business. We are open to collaboration with the Togolese Government and investors to move our two countries forward. Our government is investing massively in creating infrastructure which will support businesses and individuals. We have made huge investment in security and we will continue to ensure that the lives and property of all citizens are secured.

“We will remain partner in progress with all our investors. Our desire is for investors to invest in Lagos, grow their businesses, create wealth and jobs for our people and ultimately grow our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) positively,” he said.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah said the Dangote Refinery project could best be described as a partnership between private sector and government at its best.

Enelamah commended Dangote for being not only Nigerian champion but champion of Africa with his massive investments and re-investments, which according to him, were creating jobs and growing the economy.
“We need champions and Dangote is a Nigerian champion; he is an African champion; he is also a role model. We need many examples and with the repositioning that the Federal Government is doing, we are going to see many more examples,” Enelamah said.

On his part, Dangote commended President Gnassingbe for finding time to inspect the refinery, adding that he was happy with the interest and encouragement being received over the project.
“Apart from the refinery, there is also petrochemical, fertilizer and gas plant with daily production capacity of three billion cubic feet of gas which are being developed by the Dangote Group, all in one location,” he said.

Some eminent dignitaries that participated at the tour include former governors of Ogun, Ekiti and Cross River States, Segun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo and Donald Duke respectively; billionaire businessman and Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola, members of the Lagos State Executive Council, among others.

More pix below:

Buhari Nominates Olabiyi Durojaiye, Sunday Dare, Others For NCC Board

MICHAEL AKINOLA  

Sen. Durojaiye

President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye as Chairman and Mr. Sunday Dare as the Executive Commissioner of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Sunday Dare

In a letter dated 2 August and sent to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senator Durojaiye was nominated to represent the South West, while Dare, a close aide of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, got the nod as Executive Commissioner ( Stakeholders Management).

 

Ararume

Also nominated as Non Executive Commissioners are Senator Ifeanyi Ararume (South East), Aliyu Sa'idu Abubakar (North East), Clement Omeiza Baiye (North Central), Chief Okoi Ofem Obono Obla (South South) and Pastor Ezekiel Yissa (North Central).

Chief Obono Obla

The nominations are in accordance with Section 8 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003.

PHOTOS: WHEN TINUBU, OTHER APC LEADERS MEET PARTY WARDS EXCOs

There was a large turn out of All Progressives Congress party members at the meeting of the party state leaders with Ward Leaders and party executives today at the APC secretariat in Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos.

The  leaders including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National leader of the party and State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode discussed on the growing success of the party and how to maintain the mometum.

They then encouraged all Lagosians to obtain their PVCs for future elections. 

"The PVC plays a very important role in bringing about the change and progress we all desire," said Ambode at the meeting,

More pictures below: