By Thomas Peretu
If you practised journalism in the ’80s particularly in the centre of excellence, as I did, (and proudly so) you’d have met Late Ndubuisi Okwechime on the beats. Especially, in the course of scurring like foxes— for stories in and around Lagos metropolis. His alluring crime reports or feature articles were a delight to read.
Late Ndubuisi Okwechime as he then was, was a towering figure in the newsroom of the Daily Times of Nigeria.
His lucid, reveting reports were a testimony to his bravery and hardwork. He was everywhere even at crack joints in the Island; nosing relentlessly for crime stories. Always busy pursuing contacts to criminal hideouts for that mind blowing lead story— often from the underworld.
Okwechime was a versatile journalist and one of Nigeria’s finest at that. A hard core professional. As an intellectual, he never suffered fool’s gladly especially during interactive sessions with men of little minds. A creative genius, Okwechime’s thought provoking write-ups usually mesmerises his readers to no end. Always restless. Always once the move. That’s Abdul at work.
He was equally an amazing entertainment writer. Late Abdul was one of the first persons who guided my faltering footsteps in the entertainment industry back in 1985 when I did my internship at the Daily Times. Since then we have been together as comrades and chummy pals.
Okwechime was an enigma, a maverick of some sort; a ruthlessly courageous and fearless investigative reporter whose stories had the enviable knack of occuping the front pages of the defunct Sunday Times.
He was a fantastic crime reporter known for his audacious stories. Without fear of being immodest, I can vouch for the fact that Okwechime had the temerity to dare where angels fear to tread. He leaves no stone unturned when searching for exclusive reports—stories that would adorn the front pages of the Sunday Times.
Okwechimee later took his craft toThisWeek when the magazine was established by media guru Nduka Obaigbuna. The Duke can attest to Okwechime’s prowess and wizardry and adventurous spirit.ThisWeek later metamorphosed into ThisDay newspapers.
Once Okwechime anchored an investigative report on cocain trafficking in Nigeria. It was a cover story in which Okwechime’s blurry portrait was used to illustrate the use of cocain. Needless, to say, the magazine sold out shortly after publication. And that marked the beginning of Nduka’s success as a publisher.
ThisDay’s story can not be complete without a copious mention of late Abdul Okwechine’s contribution to the enduring success of the newspaper.
There were very few such reporters at the time nationwide. A leader in the pack was Late Chinaka Fynecontry, followed by Late Odafe Otihinwa, late Frank Alabi, late Ben Akparanta of the Guardian and a handful of others.
Late Okwechime was among the first set of journalists to have interviewed the notorious Lawrence Anini and his mother in Benin. Anini and Osunbor were the daredevil armed robbers who terrorised Edo and Delta states in the days of yore. He later met his Waterloo. Although, not after he had killed several Police officers. Unfortunately so. It was no less a pyrrhic victory for the Police.
Okwechime was reputed to have had the singular honour (if that could be counted as privilege) of interviewing the who is who in the sprawling field of criminal enterprise or to be more apt, lords of the underworld including drug barons in Nigeria at the time.
No wonder, Okwechime was very famous in Police circles. Perhaps that explained why he had a glorious relationship with Late MD Yusuf, a former Inspector General of Police. Interestingly, Uncle Lindsay Barrett that prolific essayist and poet as well as Okwechime were in MD Yusuf’s kitchen cabinet when the gentle man nursed a Presidential ambition. The two men gave bite to the campaigns.
Okwechime, you may wish to know was an alumni of the shrine where we all worshipped alongside the high priest; swaying, as it were, to the frenzy of afro beat at the Kalakuta Republic. In fact it was bruited quite rightly too, that the no nonesense journalist grew up under the wings of abami eda, Fela Kuti. The rumour mill also touted that Fela was largely responsible for his studies at the University of Lagos where he bagged a degree in mass communications. He was inexorably attached the Kutis until his death on April 19.
Okwechime later converted to Islam when he got married to Sefinat Mohammed in the early nineties. He was renamed Abdul Ndubuisi Okwechime. Shortly after, he left journalism for private business— specialising in the oil and gas industry. The couple adopted a child before she passed on many years later. The couple were separated before Safinat died of cancer.
Abdul eventually remarried another lady from Adamawa State who was a staff of NCCA Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja. The marriage is blessed with a girl child. She was an adorable girl dotted by her father.
Late Abdul who eventually relocated to Abuja at the instance of Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals was fruitfully engaged as head of publication unit of the National Orientation Agency.
He was said to have collapsed in his hotel room on the 3rd of March. Abdul was rushed to Garki specialist hospital where he was diagnosed of brain tumor. Abdul eventually died on April 16 before help could come his way. Family members and friends were able to raise 6.2 million naira out the 15 million needed to conduct the necessary surgical operation. But he left midway while efforts were being made to raise the full amount.
Adieu Mallam Abdul Ndubuisi Okwechime. May Allah grant you aljeenna. For you came, you saw and you conquered. We will continue to remember you at all times. Adieu.
