Uncle Sam: Salute to newsroom general at 85

By Bolade Omonijo, Editorial Board

In a society where people believe that adopting titles, both the meaningful and meaningless, elevate them, a man like Sam Amuka-Pemu who, despite his great achievements remains simply Mr, is hard to come by. In this wise, he is in the same class as the late Mr. Gamaliel Onosode who would protest any attempt to graft a title to his name, and the doyen of the accounting profession in Nigeria, Mr. Akintola Williams.

Mr. Amuka-Pemu who has achieved all that journalism offers remains simple and modest in everything. His dressing would not mark him out in a crowd, nor would his manner of speaking. He is soft spoken and would rather choose to be with the audience at an event than on the high table. Yet, he is qualified to be ranked with the kings and presidents. Self-effacing, he avoids having his picture grace the front page of the newspaper he established and over whose operations he presides. On many occasions, those who craved to be on the front page of Vanguard could be found pushing tair way to strike up conversation with the Vanguard publisher, only to discover to their discomfiture the following day that they labored in vain. The only title by which those who wish to be saved the “embarrassment” of calling him Mr. Amuka-Pemu could address him is, Uncle. It has stuck for so long that only very few could remember the origin.

To say Uncle Sam who turns 85 today is a quintessential journalist, an inimitable writer, celebrated editor and successful published is not to flatter him. For almost six decades, he has concentrated attention on the newspaper industry and has influenced the society immensely through it. He was around in the immediate post-independence years, remained conscientious through the years of military rule and at those critical points when khaki changed to agbada in 1979 and 1999. He has remained constant and relevant. Uncle Sam knows where he belongs- with the people of Nigeria. Those who worked with him attest to his adroitness. Sad Sam mirrored the society in simple, but stylish. In his hands, words could be weapons to be deployed for battle, whips for correction, soothing balm for the oppressed or entertainment.In one column, it was common to find information, education and entertainment in a manner unique to Sad Sam.

Uncle Sam has been a father, mentor, leader and teacher to many generations of journalists. Perhaps morethan any other person, he has contributed to the development of the media in Nigeria. Through phases of the Daily Times, he was there, operating on the lower and upper rungs of the ladder. He worked in the independent Daily Times before moving to start The Punch with the late Chief Olu Aboderin, a successful accountant and businessman who had nursed the dream of establishing a truly independent newspaper comparable to the best anywhere in the world. The newspaper came on board in 1974, but the sail became rough along the line as the two partners had divergent opinion of the way forward. The parting of ways was turbulent and a resolution did not come until the judiciary had played the arbiter. The court affirmed Amuka-Pemu as a co-owner, not a mere employee who was engaged to midwife the newspaper. By 1983, the Punch Managing Director was on his way to starting a “refreshingly different” newspaper.

Uncle Sam has been a maor player in the industry since the late sixties when copy sales earned newspapers their income. In the 70s and even the 80s, newspapers like Sunday Times that he once edited, The Punch, and Sunday Punch that hosted his very popular column, and the Concord group sold in hundreds of thousands and could truly set agenda for any government. Nationalisation of the Times Group in 1976 marked a turning point in the life of the organization and perhaps influenced the birthing of Concord by Chief MKO Abiola in the Second Republic. While Concord worked for the National Party of Nigeria that controlled the Federal Government, The Nigerian Tribune fought fiercely for Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s political etreprise. The Times and Punch sought to be neutral even though Times, owned by the government, leaned a little towards its owner-government.

The personality clash between Aboderin and Amuka led to the establishment of the Vanguard that gathers men from the existing newspapers. The Guardian, that prides itself as an elite newspaper, hd aso come on stream. Yet, with the deft touch of an Amuka who has earned a reputation for excellence in the industry, Vamgiard was quick to carve a niche for itself in the market. The paper had a touch for anything soft and newsworthy. Women flocked towards the new newspaper that came on board shortly after Major General Muhammadu Buhari swept aside the Shehu Shagari civilian administration.Lovers of arts, especially good cartoons, and Sports could not resist the new arrival. The Amuka touch was then established as a Midas touch. As it was with The Punch that he managed in 1974, so was it with Vanguard in 1984.

If Alhaji Babatunde Jose was regarded as the doyen of journalism at the point e exited, Uncle Sam is the icon today. The Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has officially adopted him as the patron. He is the ldest practicing journalist in Nigeria today, and one who commands the respect of every knowledgeable Nigeria. At a turbulent point like this, is there is anyone who could galvanise action towards saving the profession, it’s Uncle Sam. He has the idea, is known to be selfless and could reach out to anyone in government. He also commands the advantage that age confers. This could be the essence of this year’s celebration. What is the media doing wrong, and what is it doing right at a time when ake news from the internet is threatening to cut off oxygen supply to the traditional media. What should be the relationship between the established and new media? Uncle Sam may not be able to lead the battle for survival personally, but he has the opportunity to call those who should know in journalism, advertising, public relations and Information Technology; in the newsroom and classrooms to plot the way forward.

Samson Amuka-Pemu who was born on June 13, 1935, was described as the “Gentleman of the Press” by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. If he had his way, no one would call attention to him or his achievements today. Rather, he had instructed his friends to donate to a chosen orphanage. But, he is a golden fish, he cannot at this point stay away from the limelight. He deserves slaute- whether 85 gbosa from the youth whose cause he has always championed, or from the booming guns of the military reserved for patriots. Uncle Sam, a Baptist Christian, to God be all the glory.