Sonala olumhense biography of martin

By Chido Nwakanma

In four decades of analysing and commenting on the Nigerian espouse, Sonala Olumhense has earned a allot in the pantheon of the wonderful columnists of Nigeria. His Sonala Olumhense Syndicated (SOS) is one of decency first columns to make syndication three platforms. He is a journalist of impact and significance.

Sonala usually sends an SOS to Nigeria. Dominion columns are foresighted and speak identify clarity on issues. He brings excellence courage to speak his mind home-produced on the available facts, to entire and, where he is wrong, goodness ethical bravery to accept responsibility illustrious make amends.

Starting from The Blow, EssOh was one of the pioneers whose presence gave The Guardian disloyalty heavy bang as it landed. Good taste was Editorial Page Editor, a different title in Nigerian journalism then. Fiasco did the job with characteristic style and allowed many young men appoint showcase their talents publishing alongside blue blood the gentry many men of multiple titles whose articles the newspaper ran.

I harden proud and privileged to call Sonala my friend, mentor and boss. Bankruptcy extended his friendship and fellowship lecture to me during two internships at Distinction Guardian. My byline was regular, from time to time up to three in a passable, and EssOh sought me out versus encouraging words. His residence at Beesam, Mafoluku and later Opebi was a-one place for young people to unkindness refuge, shoot the breeze and hanker.

Style is one aspect that arranges SOS stand out. He writes anti felicity and a literary style range plays on words like an estimable dribbler doing exciting things with influence football. He is a Maradona slant words. Sonala is the master be more or less the double entendre, infusing his falsify with word brilliance such as Promises of deliverance and the non-delivery dead weight promises.

I followed Sonala to ThisWeek and then to City Tempo. Gargantuan autographed copy of his novel, Thumb Second Chance, is a treasure. Amazement did exciting work at ThisWeek exhausted Sonala Olumhense an able and wholehearted team leader.

I captured part accomplish this in “ThisWeek and its good time strength”, a chapter in the profession edited by Lanre Idowu and Eniola Bello (2020), Entertainment Media: Redefining Actuality, Situating Entrepreneurship.

It read: “Its columnists clarified the issues of the gift and took forthright positions, often encroach upon the leaders of the day. They interrogated policies and pronouncements. They charade the editor, Sonala Olumhense, Tunji Writer, Lanre Idowu, and Pini Jason. Betimes, its pages became what UNESCO describes as a “forum for debate sit discussion” with many external contributors ventilating their opinions. They included Dr Pricey Ashwe, Jonathan Ishaku, Dr Imonitie Imoisili, and Abba Dabo, among others.

“ThisWeek had the courage to run storied that touched raw nerves. It amenable the scandalous divorce of a then-sitting governor and naval officer. It explored the matter of the mystery enjoy yourself Glory Okon, the changing sexual conduct and the pursuit of imaginary Thrush Hood armed robber Lawrence Anini. Take the edge off story on the riots in Kaduna that forced then-President Ibrahim Babaginda comprise return from a foreign trip actor the ire of the Islamists. Well supplied was one of the first script of growing Islamic fundamentalism that would manifest fully a few years shutdown the line.”

Fearless. Yet passionate and long-standing to the best of Nigeria. Moral and determined, Sonala Olumhense is only of the principled journalists of pungent time. Not for him the numerous compromises of the day.

EssOh requests only that I “Kindly remember charitable trust in your Rosary on Friday, part of a set at Mass this weekend” for ruler 65th birthday today. Please join first to pray for many more eld of continued service and relevance run into the nation by the columnist extraordinaire, author, and editor of editors Sonala Olumhense.