Alake has a story to tell — by Dare Babarinsa
Dele Alake, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, turns 70 yesterday October 6. He is the one representing Ekiti State in the goverment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Alake was the editor of the National Concord when our boss, Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Before that election, Abiola had been in a love-hate relationship with General Ibrahim Babangida, the military dictatorship, who suddenly banned all publications in the Concord stable.
In the furore, Bayo Onanuga, the editor of the offending weekly, the African Concord, resigned. He went ahead with almost his top editord to establish the radical TheNews weekly. Onanuga was succeeded by the intrepid Soji Omotunde (alias Hero), an old classmate of Alake at Christ School, Ado Ekiti, who is currently facing special challenges.
Throughout the turbulence of the June 12 struggle, Alake remained a trusted right-hand man of Chief Abiola. In the uncertain period of Chief Ernest Shonekan interregnum, Alake was deeply involved. His experience has been rich and colourful! We awaits his memoirs with eager curiosity. Congratulations my brother! God has been kind to you. May you always find favour with Him. Happy birthday!
