Standing ovation for Bolaji Adebiyi at 60

Bolaji Adigun Adebiyi, the Marxist ideologue, prolific journalist and jolly good fellow who was hosted by friends to mark his 60th birthday almost lost his life to the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.

His survival is one major reason why he changed his attitude to birthday celebrations as a way to appreciate life and living.

Responding to the torrent of tributes from media gurus and legal luminaries that assembled at the Chinese restaurant of Mega Kitchen in Agidingbi, Ikeja on Sunday,

Bolaji recounted how he had always dismissed the celebration.

According to him, a decade ago, it was iyobosa Uwagiaren, the current secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, who expressed surprise that he didn’t make an event out of such a remarkable milestone.

This time, Bolaji had no opportunity to agree or disagree as his ideological fellow travelers of over four decades, Lanre Arogundade was already ahead of him by planning the get-together.

The impressive roll -call: Mallam Mustapha Isa,  president, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Lanre Aminu, general manager, Telegraph Newspapers, Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mike Dada, Managing Director, Chief Executive, PRM Africa; Steve Nwosu, publisher, News Express; Ayo Aluko-Olokun, Chief Consultant, Tribond Company; Semiu Okanlawon, publisher, PoliticsOnline, Kehinde Bamigbetan, publisher, Echonews; Tony Iyareh, development consultant and Barrister Tess Adewuyi of Citipoint Chambers.

Others are Habib Aruna, publisher, ThePledge; Bamidele Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Strategic Outcomes; Aliu Mohammed, veteran journalist; Tolani Abati, veteran journalist; Wale Adeoye, human rights activist and Moji, Bolaji’s son.

It was not an all-male affair. Patience, Bolaji’s better half was generously appreciated for her patience in managing the “democratic- dictator” at home.Mrs.Sola Lanre Arogundade and “mother of the boys”, Mrs Tony Iyareh attended.

Over dishes of Chinese cuisine, champagne and wine, eulogies flowed, the bottles became empty and the plates had very little left of their sumptuous contents.

There was a general consensus of the birthday boy’s humility, generosity, discipline, comradeship and intellectual rigour.

Arogundade, Adewuyi, Aluko-Olokun,Bamigbetan and Iyareh discovered these traits in his character during his activist days in the Nigerian student movement over 40years ago.Others observed them in their encounters in journalism.

A standing ovation marked the rendition of the conventional Happy Birthday.  As the celebrant prepared to cut the cake, someone broke the news: the celebration has an extended version on Thursday evening at Aruna’s Papa’s Corner. The celebration continues.