Everybody has a story behind him/her, so goes a popular adage. That exactly is what Lekan Otunfuodunrin, former Online Editor of Nation newspapers has done on Mr. Olatunde Abatan on his 60 birthday anniversary titled “My own Baba Iroyin” and which has elicited s much fond memory response from friends. Below is the full story and responses as published initially on Otunfuodunrin’s Facebook timeline.
In April 1990, I was the Ogun State Correspondent of The Punch Newspaper, based in Abeokuta when my late father, Chief Adebisi Otufodunrin clocked 60.
His birthday celebration almost cost me my job but for one of my colleagues who filed a major story I was not aware of while I was in our in our village, Imagbon, near Ijebu Ode.
It happened that the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo died in the afternoon while we were at the birthday party also attended by some fellow state correspondents.
My colleagues returned to Abeokuta to hear of the death of Chief Onabanjo through a press statement by the state government which they promptly filed to their headquarters.
Unknown to me, one of my colleagues who did not come to the birthday got the information about Onabanjo’s death on his way to the garage to board the vehicle to my village and opted to get the press statement and sent the story to my News Editor in Lagos.
The next day, a visitor told my father of Onabanjo’s death which he said was announced by the state government. I nearly collapsed as it occurred to me I had missed a major story which usually attracts maximum penalty.
My stay in the village ended immediately as I headed for Abeokuta imagining the punishment that awaited me for such a major miss. However on getting to Ijebu Ode, I found for a copy of The Punch and to my surprise, the lead story was: Onabanjo dead with my byline: Lekan Otufodunrin, Abeokuta. Suprise, Surprise!
It was when I got to Abeokuta that I discovered that my colleague, who was also my neighbour in the house I lived and was a staff of Village News that sent the story and saved me what could have temporarily truncated my career in The Punch that eventually lasted 12 years in 1999.
That colleague for who I remain eternally grateful to is Tunde Abatan who clocked 60 on Thursday, March 7.
Abatan, who is presently Executive Editor of New Dawn, Online Newspaper is a reporter to the core who never misses an opportunity to get a good story.
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While he was a staff of The Punch, he was heading for Otta, Ogun State for the naming of another staff’s child when ran into major traffic at the Old Toll Gate which turned out to be a fire incident caused by an oil tanker that crashed into other vehicles. Many were burnt.
Though the incident happened late evening in the days when there was no mobile phone, Abatan carefully took notes about the incident and the casualties and returned to the office to file the story reported only by The Punch the next day.
He did not only file the story, but he also got a local photographer to take pictures which he filed as well.
The story earned him a commendation letter, not very common in those days, but got sacked the next day for an error in a previous story he had written.
Not deterred by the setback, Abatan who started his career in Vanguard Newspapers went on to work in National Interest, New Age and Daily Independent before serving as Media Assistant to former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs Adejoke Adefulire.
Join me in celebrating my colleague, friend and brother, Abatan whose second nature is news writing. Happy birthday and remain blessed.
I remember Abatan’s painstaking reportorial qualities at the. Village News, when I was serving as the General Editor. I am not surprised that he is able to attain the pinnacle in the profession. I doff my hat to a journalistic guru at 60. – OLUFEMI ONAYEMI
Baba Irohin, really he is!
He is one of us, we are very proud him. An alumnus of the great Afrograms, Abeokuta, famous for High standard. Member of Club set 738.
Congratulations pal on turning 60! – IBIKUNLE AKINDE
Happy birthday, egbon. If there is anything I respect him for, it is the depth of his knowledge of the political history of the country as a reporter. Remain blessed sir. – SAKIBU OLOKOJOBI
May the good Lord continue to be sufficient for you in all ramifications Sir.
Happy 60th birthday Sir! – HOLLY ABDUL-AZEEZ
Happy birthday Sir. I’m happy that our paths crossed in the line of duty. God bless you and Congratulations – DEJI BALOGUN
Editor, we worked together with Baba Abatan at Daily Independent, a soft spoken, gentleman to the core, one thing that strikes me about him is that he never gets angry even if provoked unlike some of us. He is indeed a stabiliser in the newsroom, always smiling. Once again, happy birthday Baba Abatan, as I fondly call you. My wife, Mojy, whom you helped groomed at National Interest also sends hearty felicitation – BENJAMIN ALAIYA
The commendation letter and the condemnation that followed due to an error in a supposedly harmless story got my attention. Can’t forget that incident. It’s enough to sink one’s career. Thank God for your courage while the trauma lasted. Thank God it ended in praise. Congrats for.a new dawn – OLUGBENGA OSINAIKE
I remember that afternoon when Tunde Abatan got his sack letter. I was Tunde’s colleague at The Punch then. The newsroom wore a mournful look. It was as if one of us had died. We all wondered why such a resourceful reporter should be sent off with ignominy. But Tunde put it behind him and moved on. I rejoice with Tunde Abatan on his 60th birthday. Igba odun, odun kan ni. – AUSTEEN ELEWODALU
Happy birthday to the man who welcomed me and my friend, Olola Seun Akioye into The Week’s family following a recommendation by Mr. Akin Sowunmi, our queensential professor, prose writing teacher and editor of the defunct Policy Magazine. Mr. Sowunmi had recommended us to Mr. Akin Obasa, who took over as the editor of The Week as Mamman was departing the newsroom. We were just out of journalism school with zeal. Mr. Abantan took us in and became an instant coach on magazine writing with political slant. The seeds you sown have grown to be trees. Congratulations Oga. – ADEOLA AKINREMI
Baba Olatunde Abatan is a ‘reporter’ to the core — apart from being a major repository of Yoruba’s progressive politics and its nuances. I was on the politics desk with him at the Independent and he was renowned for his grasp of Nigerian politics. He was in fact the go-to person on Yoruba politics. His ‘snippet’ column was a must-read in those years. May God grant him more years in sound health and abundant provisions. Congratulations, sir! – RAFIU AJAKAYE
That was Abatan for you, my brother. I hereby recalled where I met Tunde Abatan, somewhere at a photocopying shop at now popularly referred as Computer Village, Ikeja. He was there to do one thing and suddenly one of the attendants showed us a copy of a 419 letter. I got a copy and the same with Abatan. While I was looking on how to do this exclusive in a local paper I was writing for, the next day I saw the story in the front page of The Punch Newspaper. Alas! I was shocked and looked at the byline – TUNDE BELLO
Happy birthday my bossom friend n brother. You mean different things to different people.
I see you as a confidant, a minister of the gospel, an erudite journalist, a risk taker n accomplished business man in the making.
Congrats a fatherly role model. God will crown your days on Earth with abundance n eternity in heaven ijn. – TIMILEHIN EMMANUEL AJAYI
He was my first editor at The Week Magazine, 1999. He took me to my first Gani Fawehinmi press conference too – OLOLA SEUN AKIOYE
O. Abatan remains a jolly good fellow …a journalism classmate…a colleague…a Great journalist…Happy 60th Birthday….Imagbon…that was a Great kind hearted save by Abatan for you…sent the story with pictures? I actually missed that fun…it was the month I moved to National Electoral Commission as Head of Public Affairs….But Abatan is Great Friend any day…My BEST wishes to him on his Diamond Birthday…. – SULAIMAN OSHO
Editor Lekan Otufodunrin, you forgot to add that he did not only file the story, he also got a local photographer to take pictures which he filed as well.
That sack you mentioned was also my baptism of fire as a just elected secretary of the Punch Chapel of the NUJ. But his case was also one of the best cases we had to argue for reinstatement of other colleagues asked to go.
Once again, I say a happy birthday to this wonderful and goodhearted journalist. Happy birthday bros. – TUNDE AREMU
Big congratulations to the duo of Tunde Abatan and Lekan Otufodunrin both versatile and industrious journalists who are pride to the profession. I share the joy of this birthday with Tunde.I remember with nostalgia when he visited me at Ilaro as a Correspondent of Sketch when I was wickedly transferred there for demanding for my right from the then management of defunct Sketch.Thank God we are remembering these hazards with professional fulfilment.May God grant us all our heart desires.Igba odun ,odun kan ni o – ‘SAKIN BABALOLA
HBD to a great man of incredible humility. Our paths crossed at The Punch and I appreciate your good and matured personality as a media guru. Age with grace. – PRINCE BAYO
Wow, Tunsco is 60 already?
Ever so vibrant, he always looked younger than his age.
Truly a great news hound. We encountered at NewAge.
More grace upon you dear brother. – STEVE OSUJI
@Olatunde Abatan was my lecturer at independent school of journalism, he lectured to the delight of students who never wanted to miss his lecture. A gentleman, but loaded veteran journalist.
Sir, you remained my lecturer and Oga.
Happy Birthday & Congratulations, the Lord will increase and prosper you more & more in every area of your life endeavour, in Jesus name. – GRACIOUS AKINTAYO
Wow, filing a lead story on your behalf,such show of love(Not many journalists can do that for their fellow colleagues) Happy Birthday sir,God bless you on all sides,Amen.Enjoy your day – OLUBUKOLA VERONICA BAKARE
Happy Birthday to a committed colleague and a friend of a journalist excellent, Lekan Otufodunrin, with whom I enjoyed my little stint in the Nation Newspaper. It is with the duo in all their daily endeavour. – EVANG. OLUMUYIWA OREKOYA
Privilege to work with him on the New Dawn project. Happy birthday to you again sir. Wishing you more glorious ahead. – DAYO EMMANUEL
To Mr. Olatunde Abatan who I got to know in our days with village News, with likes of Wale Sobande, Femi Aina, Femi Dokunmi, Mr. Olurin Dele Ogunyele and a host of other gentleman of the pen profession I say happy birthday and I pray you continue to enjoy the favour of the most High God. Congrats Bro. -OLUSOJI ADRIAN ABIODUN SOGBANMU
Old memories, fond memories, the time when all we care and live for were stories, especially exclusive stories. The front and back page lead stories as they were then. We worked our socks off then, we CSN only thank God for sustaining us this far. Imagine, a commendation today and a sack next day for an error deemed to have been committed before. I rejoice with our friend and colleague on his birthday and surviving the “war”, not all did, you shall live long in strength and tell your own story by yourself to the admiration of all in Jesus name. enjoy your day -REMI IBITOLA
Thanks a lot for the beautiful commendation. Tunde is a very close friend to my immediate brother. Toyin Akindele, they were friends from childhood and still remain so … Tunde is very very close to me and he is young guy I admired very well. He has penchant to succeed in life especially in Journalism and he is still determined to do so. My English is not good as that of Mojeed Jamiu, who appears to be a good brother just like Tunde. Jamiu please help me to wish Tunde Abatan happy birthday with your big big grammar on this platform.
Thanks in advance Mojeed. Age gracefull Tunde.
– BASHORUN YINKA MUSILIU AKINDELE
