By all standards, I’m from Osun State, by virtue of my academic tutelage and friends from Ife, Ilesha, Gbongan, Ikirun, Oshogbo, Modakeke and many others. Although a senior Lagosian, my wife shares similar view.
Dear friends, brothers, sisters, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Today, I bring to you an academic scholar, journalist, University teacher, literary critic, novelist, writer, satirist and journalism mentor. Although I have read his essays in the then “The Guardian Literary Series” (1990s), my first encounter with him was in 1992 at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife.
At a time when lecturers Take-Home-Pay couldn’t take them Home, he dressed very well, rode on good cars and therefore inspired many into academics by rewriting the negative History that, “Teachers’ Reward is in Heaven.”
He had been a regular columnist with the then famous NEWSWATCH Magazine right from Dele Giwa’s days, TELL, DATELINE, THE NEWS/TEMPO Magazines and several Newspapers. As a young JAMBITE then, I still remember the day I knocked on his door in Humanities Block One, while he was having tutorials with Part 3 students. And behold when the door was opened, the class expected to see a giant but instead saw a young man who was bold to ‘disturb’ the early morning class. I was treated like a King before the seniors in a class of over 30 students, some are now already Professors.
His keen interest in me started after the brief introduction and whenever he sees any article in any Newspaper written by me, he would encourage me to “keep it up.” That’s life, Bright Bayo Oladeji, knows this: those who never wrote a single “Letter to the Editor”, end up being rewarded with fat cash in Journalism, even at the detriment of their conscience. Even your long-time friends and classmates you drank with and together, did dirty things in the past, end up being your bosses, “harassing” you with queries and “oppressing” you. But the job must go on; no brother, sister or friend!
Few months after teaching us a Rain (2nd) Semester Course, “Modern Literary Theories” in Year 3 (1995), he was chased into exile by the late Maximum Ruler, General Sani Abacha, after actively partaking in sacking IBB from the political landscape through the NADECO Revolution. Through him, the word – “Kafkaisque”, a neologism from Frank Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”, became a refrain among students.
A great satirist, among his published Novels include “The Year of The Locust”, “Remains of the Last Emperor” and “Bulletin From Land of The Living Ghosts.”
Read Also : NDDC, SMEDAN, BHIIP and New Partnership for Development
“A properly educated mind will not accept crude tyranny; for to accept tyranny will be an act of intellectual self-dispossession. Long after the guns have been silenced, the supersonic boom of ideas and thunderous artillery of thinking will continue to echo.” This has been a famous quote which I got from an essay and tribute entitled: “An old man in a Hurry”, published in TEMPO in 1996, written by him to celebrate the late elder statesman and nationalist who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Anthony Enahoro.
Today, I bring to you one of the few who inspired me in Journalism; a son of Gbongan, Osun State, and one of the decision makers in Lagos State and South West politics, PROF. ADEBAYO WILLIAMS. He has been my Referee and will continue to be. If anybody stumbles on any Curriculum Vitae (CeeVee), bearing my Name and he is not one of my referees, that Ceevee should be regarded as fake and invalid.
In August during my annual leave, I was with him in his office in THE NATION Newspapers in Mushin, Lagos State for close to two hours. Our discussions with another great mind from Great Ife (1985), Femi Macaulay, has been memorable! From one Desk to the other, my friend, another senior and refined gentleman from Great Ife, Gboyega Alaka, took me round. It was a thunderous ovation in The Nation Newspapers….
According to CHRIS ANYOKWU, Associate Professor of Literature in the Department of English, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and one of the many he mentored, “Bayo Williams is the best Essayist in Africa.”
I also had a good time with another perfect gentleman, Lekan Otufodunrin, who knew me and my wife about 17 years ago, during one of those meetings organised by Journalists for Christ. I worked with him during his brief stint with the then NATIONAL INTEREST Newspapers. My greatest disappointment was that I couldn’t see another refined gentleman and former Editor of NATIONAL INTEREST, Festus Eriye, the man behind the success of The Nation (Sunday Edition). Like his wife, Olutoyin Eriye, I’m yet to see any Reporter that does not speak good of him. Among the three title Editors, he is the most celebrated, especially by Abuja colleagues. Please, my friend, Olola Seun Akioye and others shouldn’t envy me because I ‘belong’ to every Newsroom in Nigeria. Rome wasn’t built in a day…
I was happy to have seen the doyen of Sports Journalism in Nigeria, Ade Ojeikere, the man who paraded the best squad in NATIONAL INTEREST, including Onyewuchi Nwachukwu. I can’t also forget Alhaji Lawal Ogienagbon, of the popular DAILY TIMES brand. I mean the man who can teach Law better than Lawyers because he revolutionised Judiciary Reporting in Nigeria.
***This piece written by Friday Olokor (Head), Plateau State Bureau of THE PUNCH, was first published on his Facebook Page…
![Fwd: SPORTS FLAKES. THE NEXT EDITION. FRIDAY V victoria ibanga to me, chinwe 6 hours agoDetails Pls publish. > > SPORTS FLAKES : OKALA : CONQUEROR AND EMPEROR OF CAMEROUN Byline: Emeka Obasi Category: SPORTS Picture: Emeka Obasi > > Camerounians will live to remember Emmanuel Anthony Oguejiofo Okala as one goalkeeper that made them cry severally and remained shoulders above their soccer teams. Only once did the legend lose to Cameroun and it was after full and extra time. Before that stain, he tormented the Indomitable Lions in Yaoundé, stopped Canon Sportif in Lagos and dismissed Tonnerre Kalara in Calabar. > > Okala's first encounter with the Indomitable Lions was in a 1974 Yaoundé friendly. The Green Eagles defeated their hosts 1-0. Other members of the Nigerian squad included Harrison Mecha, Nathaniel Adewale, Christian Chukwu, Idowu Otubusin, Musa, Philip Boamah, Kenneth Olayombo and Mohammed Lawal. The rest were John Nwadioha, Haruna Ilerika and substitutes, Mike Okotie, Jossy Dombraye and Yakubu Mambo. > > The Camerounian strike force of Roger Milla, Eugene Ekoule, Djombi, and Ama found it most difficult to put the ball past Okala. Even when Doumbe Leah, Bahoken and Machongo joined the attack from the rear, the Nigerian keeper was unbeatable. The introduction of Gregoire Arantes Mbida made no difference. The only goal conceded was by Keeper Mballa. > > At the Algiers '78 All Africa Games, the Lions were in the same Group B with Eagles. Okala was in goal again and the Camerounians needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals. They remembered that Nigeria were defending champions and Okala was in the team that won gold at the Lagos '73 All Africa Games. The game ended goalless. Nigeria later advanced to the grand finale losing narrowly to hosts Algeria. > > The 1978 encounter came a year after Okala had turned Camerounians into day dreamers. On April 16, 1977, the first international match at the new Calabar Stadium was between Tonnerre Kalara of Yaoundé and Enugu Rangers. Tonnerre had won the first Africa Winners Cup in 1975 but lost it to Shooting Stars, Ibadan in 1976. They came with Roger Milla. The Flying Antelopes gave them a 5-1 drubbing as Okala's face seemed to put Milla in a deep blue funk. > > Later in the year, another Yaoundé side, Canon Sportif, confronted Rangers in the finals of the third Africa Winners Cup. That was the top club in Cameroun at the time and had won the Africa Cup for Champion Clubs [today's CAF Champions' League] in 1971. > > The first leg was decided in Lagos. Rangers were merciless, trouncing the visitors 4-1. Their goalkeeper was Thomas Nkono. He was forced to visit the net so often as his defence succumbed to the fire power of the Flying Antelopes. With Sam Onyeaka, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Chimezie Ngadi, Aloy Atuegbu and Emma Merenini in top shape, Okala had little to worry about. > > The return leg at the Stade Omnisport, Yaoundé was billed for December 4, 1977. Canon were so sure the first leg advantage would be erased. After all, they were not Tonnerre who could not cancel the same margin when they fell to Shooting Stars in 1976. Canon meant firepower, yes, it was 'Canon Kpakum'.They apparently did not know that Rangers had many ex -Biafran soldiers. Coach Godwin Achebe, the 'Ide' himself was even an Instructor at the Biafran School of Infantry. > > Canon started well and were leading with a goal when the referee called off the match. There was down pour, the field was turning into a swimming pool. The fans were not happy that the rain gave the visitors a breather. The match officials knew that if they allowed the game to continue, it could only pass for a water polo match. Both teams were asked to come back in 24 hours. > > The hosts still bubbled with confidence. Canon had scored 18 goals in six matches on the way to the finals. They gained a walk over against Red Star of Congo in the first round. Rangers had played eight games and could boast of nine goals. Canon did not score less than two goals in Yaoundé. They defeated SC Bissau 7-1, silenced Kadiogo 4-1 and hit El Itihad 2-0. > > Achebe stuck to his formation of Okala in goal with Charles Adimora, Nnamdi Anyafo, Vincent Chika, Christian Chukwu and Ignatius Ilechukwu as defenders. In the mid field, he opted for Aloy Atuegbu, Christian Madu and Ogidi Ibeabuchi. Sam Onyeaka and Nwachukwu Onyekwelu were attacking. Francis Nwosu later came in for Chika while Emma Merenini replaced Onyeaka. > > Canon , founded, in 1930 were 40 years older than Rangers. The opposition could not escape defeat, so the Camerounians thought. Onyekwelu had scored in the Lagos first leg. Known as 'Igariga' he was huge and powerful. While the hosts were settling down, the bulky attacker fired a shot from close to the center circle. Nkono did not see it. He heard his net shake. Canon got one goal too. > > Then it became tough. Okala refused to be beaten. Mbida tried his best. Jeane Manga Onguene put in everything. The goals were denied by the giant between the Flying Antelopes' post. Theophile Abega, the 'Doctor' could not sedate Okala. They found him a hard nut to crack. Yaoundé fans thought there must be something about the Nigerian keeper. The match ended 1-1, Rangers lifted the Cup. > > Canon could not bear that loss. They claimed that Rangers would not have won if there was no Okala. It became a big issue. Cameounians swore that Okala was a Camerounian who chose to play in Nigeria and they were ready to bring him back to their country to man the posts.. > > Blaming them was not the best way out. There are Okalas in Cameroun. The first Foreign Minister of Independent Cameroun was Charles Rene-Guy Okala. He was Ahmadu Ahidjo's man and best remembered as the man who stood up at the United Nations in 1961 to speak against British Northern Cameroun [Adamawa Province] joining Nigeria. Like Emma Okala, Charles Okala was a Roman Catholic. > > His daughter, Nicole Okala Bilai, is the first Camerounian woman to lead a political party and she is today, a Senator. The lady has gone round jobs, from acting to modeling. Like Emma Okala , she was born in May. > > Okala is also the name of a town in Cameroun. It is in the Centre Region. One of their famous footballers, Elie Onana Eloundou was born there. There was also President of that country's Table Tennis Federation, a man known as D. Okala. Many were convinced that the man who punished Canon was indeed one of them, the defeat was that painful. > > Okala returned to Yaoundé with Rangers in 1978. It was the semi finals of the prestige Africa Cup of Champion Clubs and foes were Canon. It ended goalless in the Lagos first leg. In Yaoundé there was heavy rain again but the referee refused to stop the match, another barren draw. Both teams went into penalty kicks. Canon won 6-5. That was the only time the Camerounians enjoyed a better hand. > > With Okala out of the way, Canon were unstoppable. They won the CAF Champions League in 1978, lifted the Africa Winners Cup in 1979 and grabbed the CAF Champions League again in 1980. > > Okala must have had a good laugh. One of his younger brothers is Charles, but did not last long in soccer as a goalie. Patrick was going to step into his brother's shoes. He played in the grand finale of the Cote D'Ivoire '84 Africa Nations Cup. Nigeria lost 3-1 to Cameroun. At last Milla and Abega had beaten Okala but not Emmanuel. In 1988 and again in 2000, the Indomitable Lions defeated Eagles to win the Nations Cup. > > Emma Okala put Cameroun in his gloves all through his playing career. He was voted African Footballer of the Year by African Sports Journalists Union in 1978. Okala conquered Cameroun. When he quit, Nkono heaved a whiff of fresh air and attended three World Cups.](https://www.nextedition.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/download-1.jpeg)
