Warees Solanke
To me, Femi Adesina is simply Oga. regardless of his high presidential advisory title.
As Features Editor in the defunct National Concord, he always found in me a good hand for his foreign Features that forced on me rigour to undertake research for such assignments. I remember the stuff I wrote at the demise of Princess Diana and another one on Terrorism.
But it was not only as Features Editor that we got close professionally. He is the only senior that calls me by my first daughter’s name. On phone, It’s Baba Aishah
When I was SA to DG VON between 2005 and 2007, and he was editor of the Sun and I visit the paper at Kirikiri Apapa, he welcomes me cheerfully ensuring that my press releases are lavishly.
While I was on graduate studies in Public Policy at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. articles I mailed to him were almost a must use that I was almost getting to be household name in the Daily Sun. I can say Mr. Femi Adesina is one of those editors I’ve worked with in the past 35 years who sharpened my pen
I’m eternally indebted to him and the likes of Tunji Bello, Lanre Arogundade, Taiwo Ogundipe, Kayode Komolafe, Frank Igwebueze Sam Omatseye and Victor Ifijeh.
Last Monday, we eventually agreed on Tuesday to meet. The meeting was not a doggo turenci one. Just a review of our past and a generous acknowledgement of the opportunities he afforded me as a writer opening pages for, as well as to thank him for his editor’s mite when Aasiah my second daughter wedded last year. I prayed for him for a better, even more fulfilling life outside the Villa he had operated in the last eight years. We took memorable pictures of gift exchange. From him I got two copies of the hefty pictorial book on Buhari while a gave him a Voice of Nigeria Vision and Mission statement plaque. Visit concluded in less than 30 minutes, I stepped out fulfilled in seeing my amiable Editor of many as one of the his last visitors in the seat of power.
*Warees Solanke, a journalist wrote in from the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Headquarters, Abuja
