There are honours that come with the office, honours that come with age, and then there are those that follow a man simply because of the footprints he has left behind. For Chief Tunde Rahman, the honours appear to be arriving in quick succession, and interestingly, from two constituencies that matter greatly to him: his people and his professional family.
Barely six months after the respected journalist and top presidential aide was installed as the Ba’aroyin of Iwoland, otherwise known as the Generalissimo of News, another major recognition has come knocking. This time, it was his colleagues in the media who rolled out the red carpet.
Last week in Enugu, at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors’ Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Rahman was conferred with the prestigious fellowship of the Guild and admitted into its Hall of Honour.
For a man whose professional life has been spent in the newsroom, shaping stories, mentoring younger journalists and occupying some of the most influential editorial positions in the country, the recognition must have carried a particularly sweet ring.
And the gathering was certainly not short of the industry’s heavyweights. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was in attendance, alongside some of the biggest names Nigeria’s media profession has produced, including Uncle Sam Amuka, Aremo Segun Osoba, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu and Chief Folu Olamiti. It is not every day that a man receives honours from both the palace and the newsroom within such a short space of time.
On April 4, the ancient city of Iwo had already witnessed an elaborate celebration in Rahman’s honour when the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi Telu 1, bestowed the prestigious title of Ba’aroyin on him. The occasion was actually a three-in-one affair, combining his Diamond birthday celebration, the chieftaincy installation and the launch of his foundation, the STRIDES Initiative for Development and Support.
The guest list alone was enough to turn the event into a talking point. Governors, ministers, senior government officials, traditional rulers, editors, media executives, friends and associates all converged on Iwo. The question was not who attended but who did not.
And perhaps that is the most telling part of Rahman’s story. The latest honours are coming not merely because of the positions he has occupied but because of the goodwill he has accumulated over decades.
Rahman is no stranger to the upper reaches of Nigerian journalism. He was Political Editor at the old Daily Times, Group News Editor at The Punch and later Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, where he edited two of the three titles in the stable.
He has also maintained strong links with international media organisations and travelled extensively, building the kind of professional network that has made his name familiar far beyond Nigeria’s shores.
Two major honours in barely six months, one from his traditional home and another from his professional home. For Ba’aroyin Rahman, the applause is clearly coming from both sides of the fence.
And perhaps there is no greater compliment for a man than to be celebrated by the people whose company he keeps and the people whose story he has spent a lifetime telling.