The saga of unbreakable Uncle Sam, by Dare Babarinsa
Sam Amuka-Pemu (Sad Sam) has staying power. He has remained a prominent Nigerian for more than half a century. In 1967, when he was appointed editor of the Sunday Times, he was just 32. Before then, he had been the editor of Spear magazine, also published by the Daily Times group. In 1973, he collaborated with Chief Olu Aboderin, a wealthy accountant, to start the phenomenal Punch newspapers. It was a collaboration made in heaven. Amuka had the idea. Aboderin had the money. The Punch remains till today, but not the friendship or collaboration between Aboderin and Amuka-Pemu.
In 1985—40 years ago—Amuka-Pemu established the Vanguard newspapers. The truth is that Uncle Sam has been everything possible in journalism and beyond. On Friday, June 15, many of those who gathered in Lagos to celebrate this living legend were not around when he was a roaring lion on the pages of the old Sunday Times.
At 90, Uncle Sam has become a Living Deity of the Press. His impact on Nigeria, especially on the press, is great. Around 1988, I had gone to see him at his office at Kirikiri Canal overlooking the sandy waterway. I was assigned by my boss in Newswatch to do a story about a young publisher who allegedly was owing money to Vanguard for printing and other services. Amuka said the story was true, but he would not want any story about it published. He promised to reach out to Ray Ekpu, our Editor-in-Chief.
“The young man is restless, but he is trying to do something good,” Uncle Sam said. “We should not discourage him, but help him. His success may be good for journalism.” He was clairvoyant. The restless young man of that day has now become an iroko tree of Nigerian journalism. The truth is that Uncle Sam is an excellent human being. His serenity and royal poise belie the battles he had fought and won.
As editor of the Sunday Times, he was running the most important weekly in Nigeria during the Civil War. It was a testy period when news could have more implications than mere intellectual curiosity. He made good friends and remained the journalist he has always been. He never tried to trade places with any other profession.
Amuka-Pemu’s career can be calibrated into three phases. First was his experience with the Daily Times during the Golden Era of Nigerian journalism. That was the era of Alhaji Babatunde Jose, the legendary editor who became Managing Director of the Daily Times in 1962. There were too many stars in the Daily Times firmament: Peter Enahoro, Alade Odunewu, Henry Odukomaya, Segun Osoba, Tunji Oseni, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Tola Adeniyi, Areoye Oyebola, Tony Momoh, Femi Sonaike, Idowu Sobowale, and many more.
Under Jose, Daily Times was the tree that made a forest. No reporter thought of leaving Daily Times—except Sam Amuka-Pemu, the irreverent columnist of the Sunday Times writing under the pen name, Sad Sam. His writings were witty, filled with sarcasm and ironic twists. He used short sentences and crisp elucidations. He was bold and often ran into trouble. He was totally unafraid. Then he thought of leaving Daily Times! It was fortuitous that he met Aboderin and they started the sassy Sunday Punch, noted for its racy prose, irreverence, and barely clad page three girls. Then the two friends fought and Sam Amuka was pushed out. He went to court and won! Thus began the third phase of the Sam Amuka-Pemu story.
After Punch, he founded The Vanguard and proved to sceptics that there is life after disaster. The Vanguard is Uncle Sam. His open personality, effervescence, and sheer humanity are all expressed in the openness of the paper—its irreverence, great prose, and damn-the-consequence reporting. The paper attracted intellectual gipsies: Alhaji Kola Animasaun, Dap Dorman, Chuks Iluegbunam, Eric Teniola, Bisi Lawrence, Pini Jason, Tony Iredia, and Chris Momah. Vanguard alumni include icons like Muyiwa Adetiba, Toye Akinode, Frank Aigbogun, Fola Arogundade, and Gbenga Adefaye, the journalists’ journalist.
There are many proud Vanguardians: Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, Hubert Unegbu, Uche Onyebadi, Chris Okojie, Kunle Oyatomi, Tunde Ajani, and Wole Akinola, who regard themselves as eternally part of the fraternity. Uncle Sam is an incredible mentor: unbreakable under pressure, resilient, fearless, and steely stubborn—as General Sani Abacha’s military regime found out. During that era, TELL, TheNews, and The Punch suffered greatly. The Vanguard too paid dearly. Its defence correspondent, George Onah, spent one year in solitary confinement at the DMI in Apapa and later under the Ikoyi Cemetery—on Colonel Frank Omenka’s orders. Yet, Vanguard remained the vanguard of our freedom.
The leader of the team, Unbreakable Uncle Sam, has lived 90 incredible years, witnessing Nigeria’s transformation. That Uncle Sam agreed to be celebrated at 90 is a testimony that he too has been transformed. Ten years ago, as his 80th birthday drew near, I called him, reminding him we needed to celebrate him. “What is the hurry all about?’’ he asked. “Wait until I am dead, then you can have all the celebrations that you want!!”
This time, I was told it took a deep conspiracy, led by the iconic investigative reporter and legend, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, to ensure Uncle Sam attended his own 90th birthday. Osoba, former Managing Director of the Daily Times, used his resources—including Gbenga Adefaye—to successfully “kidnap” Uncle Sam to his celebration!
The truth is that Uncle Sam has lived an incredible life. Every Nigerian leader has known him personally: from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While the tapestry of power changed, Uncle Sam remained the incredible witness—a Voice of Reason, a temperate interlocutor, and a towering symbol of national resilience and possibilities. What a life!
Congratulations Uncle Sam! Please get ready to be kidnapped for your 100th birthday!!
— Dare BABARINSA is Chairman, Gaskia Media Ltd
