PRESS STATEMENT
August 4, 2008
BABATUNDE JOSE: DOYENS DON’T DIE.
A great era in Nigerian Journalism came to a glorious end with the passing
away of the Doyen of Journalism in the country, Alhaji Ismail Babatunde
Jose on Saturday August 2, 2008 at the age of 82.
Afenifere celebrates the life and time of Alhaji Jose who without tertiary
education rose to become the most respected Journalist in Nigeria.
The great and accomplished media man, who joined the Daily Times Group as
a technical trainee in 1941 at the age of 16, rose through the ranks to
become a reporter and later Editor in 1957. He was to reach the peak by
1962 when he was appointed as managing Director, Chairman/chief Executive,
a position he relinquished in 1976 during the crisis in the
organization.
His story of life is the sort the American dream is made of i.e. the rise
from obscurity to stardom through dint of hard work and perseverance.
His excellence and diligence was not limited to the field of journalism.
He was also distinguished as a faith leader becoming the youngest person
in history to hold the office of the president of Ahmadiya Movement of
Islam at the age of 42years. The mission was to be the better for it.
In a society where heroes don’t last, Babatunde Jose was an exemplar as
he did not get involved in any act that could tarnish his reputation. He
walked on his feet through his physical presence on earth and did not have
to crawl on his belly. It is on record that he quit the committee
established by Ernest Shonekan to look into the June 12 crisis within
48hours when Shonekan revealed abroad that the exercise was just for“record purpose”.
We salute the spirit of this great Yoruba son and indeed a Nigerian
indefatigable patriot. Though he is no longer with us physically, his
moral grandeur shall be eternally with us. We would not have to define
integrity in public life because Jose personified that. A Nigerian dream
would not have to be constructed because Jose taught us that you can rise
from nothing to real something.
Afenifere commiserates with his biological and extended families, the men
of the pen profession and the Islamic faith in Nigeria on this irreparable
loss.
Our consolation however is that doyens like Jose don’t die. Their works
make them live for ever. Any account of Journalism in Nigeria would never
be complete for as long as the earth remains without sufficient discourse
on Babatunde Jose.
Adieu Babatunde Jose, may Allah grant your soul Aljanat.
Yinka Odumakin.
National Publicity Secretary.