Posted by By WILLY EYA & AGAPTUS ANAELE on
The remains of veteran journalist, Alhaji Babatunde Ajose, who passed on early yesterday at the age of 83 years was interred at the Atan Cemetry, Yaba, Lagos on Saturday at 4.04 pm.
The remains of veteran journalist, Alhaji Babatunde Ajose, who passed on early yesterday at the age of 83 years was interred at the Atan Cemetry, Yaba, Lagos on Saturday at 4.04 pm.
His remains were interred beside his late father's tomb, Chief Brimoh Jose, who died on March 5, 1941, at 78.
The funeral prayers, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was led by the Chief Imam of Anwarulm Islam Movement of Nigeria, Alhaji Babatunde Yusuf.
Present at the burial were the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his Ogun State counterpart, Olusegun Osoba, Professor Idowu Sobowale, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Olabisi Onabanjo University.
Also in attendance were Justice Yahaya Jinatu, a former Minister of Education, Professor Babatunde Fafunwa, Prince Tony Momoh, the Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, among others.
Reacting to his death, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, said the late doyen of journalism lived a fulfilled life.
Atiku who spoke through his media consultant, Mr Garba Shehu, said: 'Jose lived a full and exemplary life," adding he was 'an institution in journalism, politics and leadership in Islam. Our hearts are broken. Allah will bless his soul."
Paying glowing tribute to the deceased, Tinubu said: 'He was a reservoir of knowledge. Nigerians will continue to miss him," while Osoba said: 'We have lost a father. He brought journalism practice to a standard in Nigeria."
He added that the late Jose was a journalism professor of a kind, who produced many successful journalists and that his products could be found in all the media houses across the nation.
Former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, described the late octogenarian as an icon of traditional and conventional journalism.
According to him, 'he was a writer and speaker of English Language. We mourn him greatly. Nigerians and journalism profession would miss him dearly.
Professor Shobowale, who was among those tutored by Jose, reminisced: 'Those of us who passed through him know what we have lost. He was a man of peace. He never encouraged violent journalism. He always ensured that you get all sides of the story. His death is the end of an era."
Shobowale urged the government to immortalize him as a way of remembering the journalism institution he contributed in building in the country.
Chief Ogunshola had this to say about him. 'He was the pillar of Nigerian press. In spite of his travails at The Daily Times, he emerged victorious. We will remember him."
The former Editor of Sunday Times, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, also eulogized the late journalism icon. 'Without question, Alhaji Ajose was incontestably the founder of modern Nigerian Journalism. He was a man of legendary proportions. He was a pathfinder sui generi, who founded the 'Brave New World."
He further described him as a 'largely self-taught, self-motivated and self-made man; a man who was in a class all by himself. He was the singular catalyst that transformed the largely anti-colonial Nigerian Press into modern instrument that now provides a market place of ideas about governance, national objectives, focus and direction between businesses communities and their various markets."
Former Secretary-General of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers Association of Nigeria, (PENGASAN), Chief Frank Kokori, said: 'Activists and journalists are of the same mould, saying that when a man lived up to 80 years and left a good name that meant he lived a fulfilled life.
He said journalism reached the greatest height in the days of Babatunde Jose describing him as a great man.