Today I celebrate my brother, my friend, and Nigeria's most proficient investigative journalist, Yusuf Ali, on his birthday.
Omo Alhaja o, Oko Hajiya Muinat aponbepore o, pele dowo e, Akano Ade.
Baba Mubarak mi, Baba Ramadan omo olola o, pele dowo e, Akano Ade.
Baba Mujeeb mi, Baba Mujeebat omo alaponle o, pele dowo e, Akano Ade.
I remember the day I landed in Ibadan, sixteen years ago,
A General dispatched to his home town to break the vendors' revolt.
And there you were, the Bureau chief, leading the troops by example, from crack of dawn to the wee hours of the night.
First we persevered, then we conquered.
And in just one month, returned Punch to well above the pre strike figures.
And yet, despite the stress and rigour of additional responsibility, you never missed a story, failed to get an exclusive, or show any slack in your primary assignment.
A General dispatched to his home town to break the vendors' revolt.
And there you were, the Bureau chief, leading the troops by example, from crack of dawn to the wee hours of the night.
First we persevered, then we conquered.
And in just one month, returned Punch to well above the pre strike figures.
And yet, despite the stress and rigour of additional responsibility, you never missed a story, failed to get an exclusive, or show any slack in your primary assignment.
So when people ask for the secret of your ability to get exclusive stories out of thin air, a feat that was a major factor in the success story of The Nation Newspapers, I always repeat this story, because I was there, everyday, until the battle was won.
This is because you never believed anything is impossible, and that there is a story that is unreachable.
This is because you never believed anything is impossible, and that there is a story that is unreachable.
Happy birthday, Akano Ade,
Many happy returns of the day.
Igba odun, odun kan.
Many happy returns of the day.
Igba odun, odun kan.
My Ten Kobo.
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