The (in)famous ‘Lagos – Ibadan’ press, depending on the side of the divide translates to different strokes for different folks. The appellation is derived from the dominance and inquisitorial prowess of the media bodies littered along the radius of the Lagos-Ogun-Oyo corridor being the abode of Ìwé Ìròhìn the first newspaper in Nigera established in 1859 by the English priest Rev. Henry Townsend. From the searing pot of the Lagos – Ibadan press emerged the combative and enlightening ‘Ilasa-Okota’ sporting press triumvirate of Complete Sports/Football, Sporting Champion and National Sportslink publications that defined the nation’s sporting landscape in the mid-80s all through the 90s, little wonder the sporting successes of the 90s are still unrivalled, and by sheer coincidence following the South Africa 1996 AFCON boycott, I transmuted from a committed reader of these print media to regular contributor and welcome guest (the days when I missed the weekly edition, I simply proceed to the respective offices for a pick a copy), these three publications became essential part of my adolescent years all through embryonic adulthood, these explains my emotional and physical bond with the three media houses and by extension the affable late John Danusa Ocholi (Dan Ocholi) who was the editor of Sporting Champion after succeeding Paul (Sports) Bassey the current Commissioner for Sports in Akwa Ibom.
My relationship with Dan Ocholi covers three eventful decades from 1996 to 2026 when this editor for all times exited this planet at 65 on Sunday 20th September, the third Sunday in September dedicated to the Wife Appreciation Day perhaps in appreciation to the spouse who was always his pillar of support. I knew him through his incisive weekly ‘The Hotline’ column as Sporting Champion editor, while he sought and found me through my punching articles driven by youthful zest that belies my physical frame just as Apostle Paul’s powerful written letters contrasts with his physical presence as he stated in 2 Corinthians 10:10. It was an honour standing before this editors’ editor in his office, the same man I have been priviledged to read his articles in every available newspaper arena/joint all over the country and he naturally made me feel at home with his disarming smiles which is a permanent trademark, those were the days before the mobile phones.
The foremost sports journalist who is an alumnus of University of Lagos and proudly so when we banter about ABU and UNILAG having graduated from the Mass Communication dept in 1983 cut his journalism teeth at the Makurdi-based Voice Newspaper, before joining the Ilasamaja domiciled Champion Newspaper group where our paths thankfully crossed when he became the editor of the high-flying Sporting Champion. To his eternal credit, and with total humility on my part, he always ensures I become a part of the other publications he worked after leaving the Champion Newspaper stable. From the South African modelled Kick-Off as editor to Newswatch as the Sports Desk Head to Daily Pilot as Deputy Editor and the final anchor as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Asset newspaper where he graciously published my tribute to my late mother in a period that best epitomized my nadir in the valley of emotional turmoil. I cannot forget his enthusiasm when I informed him of picking a job as a correspondent and head of Sports Desk with the Auchi based Afemai Newspaper during my mandatory service year, his words of wisdom were always soothing for me on the job that I informally learnt from the grandmasters of his era, and his five minutes of advice during our first interaction in his Ilasamaja office remains valid and indelible. There was no greater honour when I received his call a couple of years back with an offer of a seat on the Board of his brainchild to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
A decade after my adventure with the print media and transiting into electronic sports broadcasting, my interactive radio experience on BBC Sports was only a prelude to my induction as a conferee in 2006 of his popular weekly sports programme on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Ikoyi – ‘Sports Conference’, where Oga Dan was the ‘Speaker’ as the presenter and my path crossed with Ken Ochonogor (coincidentally, both of us were on another radio programme when Oga Dan passed on) and these duo as resource personnel were the human ‘shock absorbers’ that were always available and reliable who neither disappears nor disappoints when appearance is pre-confirmed during the early days of my foray into Sports broadcasting on Cable TV, a live weekend programme mooted by my award winning cousin – Bimbo (Marshal) Odeyale.
My condolence to the loving wife who he fondly refers to as my own sister and the kids, to the pioneer President of the Igala Journalists Forum, who is through with all deadlines and hotlines, Iche gba tu gba Oga Dan, the sincere one.
