Yes, Hardball has acquired the reputation for hitting hard, delivering stiff, hard and telling blows on Nigeria’s “troublers of Israel” — and they are so, so many!
So, pardon Hardball if he hits out almost all of the time. It’s a chore that must be done to keep our country sane.
Still, when you work hard, you must also play hard. When you nail those malcontents, trying to drive everyone down, you must also hail those true heroes, doing stuff to lift the rest of us.
One of such heroes is Kunle Ajibade, who turned 60 on May 28 but was celebrated by friends, in a two-part festival of ideas, yesterday — May 30: first, at a colloquium, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island; and later, from 6:30 pm, at Freedom Park, the former Broad Street Prisons, also in Lagos.
Freedom Park would boast an especial rich symbolism, in the Nigerian ding-dong between citizens’ liberty and the Nigerian state, especially under military rule, which fancies itself some Leviathan, before whom luckless citizens must tremble!
Well, the real God may well dispose, and man only propose. Indeed, the tin gods of the military era wanted to fully dispose of citizens as they liked — maim, kill, gaol and detain at will.
But thanks to the Ajibades of this world, they found such “dispositions” not at all settled. In fact, they became no more than explosive propositions, the disposal of which even they had absolutely no idea, even if they bluffed, with martial brawn, that they did.
That was why the Sani Abacha junta would throw Ajibade into the slammer — for life! — and for doing nothing except his job as a journalist, reporting on an alleged coup. Still, those tin gods moved fast to decree his paper, The News’ report was prejudicial to the coup trial, and therefore the information published was tantamount to accessory to coup! Talk of tin gods, that held the power of life and death!
But where are these blokes today? Not only gone, but also, by their irresponsibility, demonized for life, their profession, the otherwise honourable military, by the poison of reckless power. But here is Kunle Ajibade, waxing strong: a cultured man of history. Indeed, the poet Obari Gomba, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, referred to him as “Elder Kunle Ajibade”, to some applause from the audience. Indeed, the idealist and driven youths of yore are becoming sagacious elders of today!
The story of Kunle Ajibade, genteel, calm and deep, is the story of the triumph of personal sanity when the collective was running raving mad. The pen is mightier than the sword might be a flattering poetic quip. But the stark reality is far less awesome. Still, Ajibade and co faced military brute with their journalistic push and talent — and triumphed to tell the story.
The personages out their to honour the celebrator at 60 spoke volumes: Prof. Wole Soyinka, former Governor Segun Osoba, Vanguard Publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (who picked a lexical grudge with “celebrator”, insisting she referred to the birthday boy as “celebrant” — don’t worry, Erelu, celebrator is also correct usage), Ayisha Osori, the young woman who burnt her fingers for daring to join a political party, the poet, Odia Ofeimum, enduring Vanguard columnist, Owei Lakemfa, Femi Falana, SAN, Mrs Ayo Obe, former president, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Senator Femi Ojudu, Omoba Yemisi Shyllon, Idowu Obasa and The Nation’s Sam Omatseye (who though an emergency kept away) were a tribute to the deep debt of gratitude Nigeria today owes Ajibade, and his brave comrades back then.
“Elder” Kunle Ajibade, Hardball heartily welcomes you to the Diamond chamber of 60!