As Orbih, Sogolo, Aledeh, Obayuwana, Soremekun, Rafsanji, Sadoh touch base with celebrator
Publisher and editor-in-chief of THE CONCLAVE (online newspaper), Mr Sufuyan Ojeifo, MNGE, who turned 58 on August 6, 2024, has expressed gratitude to prominent Nigerians, friends and well wishers who identified with him on the occasion with their significant goodwill messages.
Mr Ojeifo said he felt honoured and humble by the plethora of goodwill messages and urged media professionals to engage in self-celebration, especially at a time like this when the socio-economic conditions were weighing people down, making it extremely difficult to keep fidelity with family and kindred responsibilities, thus forcing people to doubt their identities.
According to him: “We should not despair; we should not resort to extreme self-help in the circumstances of our economic deprivations. As one of my late godfathers, Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, would always say to me and I found it comforting: ‘Oj, we must learn how to manage our poverty.’ Baba Awoniyi impacted my life greatly with his disciplined life style, including on matters financial.”
The seasoned journalist, who has grossed over three decades in the media profession, said that journalists should take every available opportunity to celebrate themselves, pamper and make themselves happy “since other people that we have made through the incontinence of our pen would hardly ever celebrate us until they are goaded to do so.
“Or, put differently, it does appear that we, journalists, have over indulged them to think that our duty is to always project them, and theirs is to always receive the concomitant adulation and public recognition. I sincerely think this is not correct and should be revised and reversed. Relationships between the journalists and those they report should be nested in quid pro quo (reciprocal gesture).
“It is for the reason supra that I decided to behave like the redhead lizard, which consequent upon falling from the top of the Iroko tree, shakes its head, declaring with aplomb that if no one praises it will praise itself. This was the motivation behind the piece, entitled: ‘I have seen the goodness of God: Godiya’, which I wrote to celebrate myself on my birthday.
“But surprisingly, the piece hit the right chord in the hearts of people with whom I have made friendship and known over the years with a good number of them sending in their goodwill messages across all the media platforms. In this regard, my special thanks go to Senator Effiong Dickson Bob for your special message. The lesson in this is that, perhaps, we should keep reminding our friends out there, somehow, to identify with us in our times of celebration. Afterall, human beings are the garments of honour with which we clothe ourselves,” Ojeifo said.
Meanwhile, some last-minute goodwill messages came in on Sunday afternoon from the national vice chairman (South-south zone) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih who prayed to God to continue to keep the celebrator in good health and grant him his heart desires.
Professor Emeritus at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Godwin Sogolo and family sent in their missive: Happy Birthday! My family & I congratulate you, as you mark your 58th birthday. May you live to celebrate many more years of the Lord’s grace, in good health & prosperity.
A former Commissioner of Information in Edo State, Prince Kassim Afegbua wrote: “Happy birthday to Oj Wonder @58. May God almighty continue to grant you strength, wisdom and grace to navigate life’s unending struggles for the good of humanity. Happy birthday my brother and friend.”
A broadcaster with Arise TV, Mr Sulaiman Aledeh wrote: “Wow…Happy birthday, Sir. May God continue to guide, guard and bless you, amen.”
Read a former Foreign Affairs Editor of The Guardian and currently communication specialist and Conflict Prevention Assistant at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Oghogho Arthur Obayuwana: “THE EVERGREEN OJEIFO! Sufuyan Ojeifo is a consummate journalist, no doubt! Way back in the mid-nineties, he had earned the haywire name for himself: “Oj wonder” because of his uncanny eye for hidden facts and spot on interpretation. He may come across as sometimes pugnacious but that’s because he obviously has a mind of his own. Ojeifo and I beat the roads hard in Abuja then. Whatever he did, he liked to excel. Ojeifo is tenacious, persistent, unstoppable, professionally irksome, and above all, fearless! I am not surprised that he has hit the heights because he was always destined for that level. As he turns 58, I wish him radiant health and greater happiness. And for the Conclave, more success. Congratulations and happy birthday, my brother. May God continue to keep healthy and productive.”
CISLAC boss, Mr Auwalu Rafsanjani wrote: “Congratulations and happy birthday, my brother. May God continue to kee you healthy and productive,” while Seyi Soremekun, Communications consultants at the United Nations wrote: “Congratulations my brother. Wishing you the best always.”
