Sola Akinuli at 70 -By Festus Adedayo

Today is the 70^th birthday of the former Editor of the defunct Sunday Sketch. Mr. Sola Akinuli. Personable and a man who values the power of the written word, he was one of those who held the forte and tradition of the 1964-established newspaper which became one of the media bequeathals of the Western region to the history of Nigerian journalism.

While in the university in the late 1980s and early 90s, Akinuli’s Sunday Sketch was one of the media that opinion articles I wrote found comfort of publication. It was thus a delight for him to see him live in 1995 when, as a new staff of the Nigerian Tribune, I walked into his Dugbe, Ibadan office. “You are that prolific writer!” he had shouted.

Akinuli was later to become the Chief Press Secretary to two Military Administrators, the last being Anthony Onyearugbulem, as MILAD of Ondo State. Consequently, he had to waddle through the bad press provoked when the garrulous Onyearugbulem stomped on the face of one of the most revered elders of Yorubaland, Pa Adekunle Ajasin. Onyearugbulem similarly caused uproar in the state, especially to the Auga people, when he presented the staff of office to the Alani of Idoani who natives believed was not of royal blood. In Edo, Onyearugbulem replicated his insolence and rudeness to the revered Benin monarchy by attempting to rotate the chairmanship of Obas, seen as an affront on the Benin Kingdom. It is believed across board that the MILAD’s insolence, both in Ondo and Edo, led to his untimely death.

Akinuli has paid his dues in journalism and is considered to be one of the icons of the profession. He deserves thumbs-up on the occasion of his birthday. Happy birthday to you, sir.