It is extremely difficult to find words suitable enough to describe this man named Akinyemi Farounbi, but who always prefers to be simply called Yemi Farounbi. I came in contact with him in 1977 through an uncle, late Babatunde Oyerinde, when he offered me a freelance job that would start me up in life. That was almost five decades ago. We thank God that this generous and amiable “youth” of that period has today joined the octogenarian club. How time flies!
I must say that applying my pen to compose a tribute to this highly celebrated man, Dr Yemi Farounbi, who is not only a boss, but a father-figure to me, is a most arduous task. How best can I, in a single write up, describe him or his numerous accomplishments and impacts on humanity?
Yemi, as he was fondly called by the Late Cicero of Esa-Oke, Uncle Bola Ige, is like a sprawling road: the more you travel on it, the more it extends. Yemi Farounbi is like the elephant explored by a blind man, with each part touched forming an impression and describing the massive beast, based on the part of it he experienced.
Yemi Farounbi in his forte – the media, either as a practitioner, administrator and/or as a teacher, is an all-rounder and a doyen in Communication Arts; a very distinctive personality with the frame and revolutionary posture of the famous Cuban President, late Fidel Castrol. Sitting under his mentorship was like brooding under the eagle watch of Orisa nla. It is not a hidden fact that his revolutionary bent impacted his mentees so profoundly as to provoke the sobriquet — “Radical-in-Chief” — by a section of the young media entrepreneurs.
Yemi, reputed as an administrator per excellence, was conferred with the national honour of OON by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His brilliance and outstanding performance at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), earned him this unique recognition. His credentials in Philippines where he served as Nigerian Ambassador also speak volumes about his ability to manoeuvre unknown landscapes.
Dr. Yemi Farounbi is a man much sought after by those who love to drink from the reservoir of knowledge that God had bestowed on him.
In 1992, as a Regional Correspondent of the defunct Champion Newspapers for the West, I was mandated to be in Osogbo to cover the Social Democratic Party primaries in the newly created Osun State that produced the late Isiaka Adeleke as the first Executive Governor.
Akinyemi Farounbi presided over the conduct of the party primaries with the full support of the national leadership of the party under Ambassador Baba Gana Kiginbe. I travelled round the 30 Local Government Areas in the state to monitor the conduct of the primaries. It was a herculean task. I arrived Osogbo late in the evening and headed straight to the party secretariat along St.Charles Grammar School road.
Osogbo township road had been deserted due to tension generated by the party stalwarts in the fierce context that almost threw the state into political tumoil. Security had been beefed up by the then Military Administrator, Col. Leo Ajiborisa, and mobile policemen stationed at stategic locations at the state capital. Movement were also restricted except for those on essential duty. Commuters and public transport were sent off the road to restrict movement, with those on essential duty walking long distances. I suffered the same fate, trekking between 15 to 20 kilometres before getting to the party Secretariat where the results were being collated.
The state received many visitors and virtually all the hotels were fully booked. On my arrival at the party Secretariat, passing through the security check was another task, but for the intervention of Dr. Farounbi who sighted me afar off and sent words to the police officer to allow me in, telling him that I was on official assignment to cover the primaries.
Since the place was on the outskirts of the town, there was no electricity supply, an indication that they were to close early. I became apprehensive while efforts to secure accommodation failed as the hotels were filled to the brim. Dr Farounbi sensed there was no place for me to stay since I came from outside the state.
He allayed my fears when he announced I should come with him. We both slept on the same bed, with a statement to tease: ‘Lanre, you would be my companion and a guard angel for the night…’ The statement was completely lost on me, not knowing that the master strategist had been tipped on the plans by politicians to trap him in hotel and lobby him to play ball by switching ballots. It was an intensive one which lasted hours with forth and back deal. With all the talks, YF, as his younger brother, Muyiwa, usually referred to him, refused to be drawn into falsification of results in dispute.
The trump card was quickly dropped to send them away as he announced that he had a journalist guest inside who should not hear that he was being lobbied to tamper with the rules. This joker sent his guests off as they all left in disappointment. I witnessed this live and direct, and it enabled me see the other side of Yemi. In his usual smile, he refused to go under with the pressure on him.
I hereby seize the opportunity to call him by his first name – Yemi, the incorruptible politician. The full story is for another day.
Happy birthday my incorruptible Oga.
•Ogundipe, a former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and African Union of Journalists (AUJ), writes from Abuja.
