Negative Reactions Trail Nigerian Celebrated Journalist, Peter Enahoro, As He Goes Home
OpenLife Nigeria reports that as celebrated Nigerian journalist and Daily Times ex-editor, Peter ‘Pan’ Enahoro, finally goes home today, negative comments are trailing his journey back to his maker.
According to reports, the remains of the foremost journalist, author and national icon, will be buried in London today, June 7.
He died in the United Kingdom,UK, on April 24, 2023 at age 88.
Enahoro became editor of Nigeria’s oldest newspaper, the Daily Times, at the age of 23 and proceeded to carve a niche for himself as a satirist, standing on the side of the people.
Widespread eulogies trailed his demise on account of his humongous contributions to topical global issues during his professional media career.
The new owner of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), Mr. Fidelis Anosike, said today’s interment would not end the life and times of Enahoro, but elevate his legend globally. Daily Times, he said, has embarked on activities to honour the late icon. DTN, which Enahoro led, will be 100 in three years’ time.
Anosike said: “Daily Times of Nigeria is proud of the landmarks of the legend, Peter Enahoro. Indeed, one can rightly say his engagements were a labour of love for the development of Nigeria and the vibrant press in the country today owed much of its credit to Peter Enahoro’s bold and courageous skill with the pen to hold those in power accountable to the people.”
President Bola Tinubu, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are among prominent Nigerians who eulogized Enahoro, describing him as a nationalist, astute journalist, trainer of young journalists and a nice man.
Famous African journalist, Ben Asante, who worked under Enahoro in the latter’s London-based magazine, New African, in the 1980s, said he remembered Enahoro for many good things.
Asante further painted him in glowing colours, saying Enahoro’s name opened doors at the top echelon of government and business in Nigeria.
His words: “There was much more to working under the doyen of journalism then. Peter opened doors. With the mere mention of Peter’s name, even at the time of military government, I gained entry to leading political and business circles.”
But aside these eulogies came negative comments by individuals who have expressed reservations about the burial place of the legendary pen pusher.
To most of them, it is an absurd that the media icon would be buried in the United Kingdom as if he had no ancestry.
They reckoned that the statesmanship Peter Enahoro attained would have been enough consideration to bury him in his home town in Edo or any part of Nigeria.
They could not understand the reason for the UK burial, stressing that it translate to cultural insult to his fatherland.
Below are some of the negative reactions in the social media space
A social media influencer simply identified as Shakespeare Shelly said: Did he instruct his children to bury him in the UK? It’s a bad decision by his children if he didn’t tell them to do so. Well, rip, sir.”
But another social media enthusiast, identified as Eddy Godspower Eboseta Akiomon, countered Shakespeare Shelly, saying “What is your business what that? That’s how you people create confusion everywhere. Do you think every parents want to stress their children when they are finally gone?”
However, Charlypso Onuoha, sees it differently saying “I am very sure he gave them a stem warning never to bring his dead body back to a zoological republic called Nigeria,this how bad zoological has become.”
Like Shakespeare Shelly, Chukwujekwu Anyika asked rhetorically, “Why burying him in London? Is he no longer a Nigerian?” But Samuel Ogechi, in agreement with Chukwujekwu Anyika, asked“Why UK?”
Kemikem Isiakubuchi expressed disappointment, making allusion to the unfriendly political climate. He said: “Oh! I’m disturbed within me, sad too that his burial is in UK, why? I knew is either his or family decision. This is a pointer to fear of level of insecurity in the country that a man of his calibre will be layer to rest in a foreign country. APC has have driven away our citizens. They now fear returning to their home land.”
Chinedu Nwamgbe Don Odo said: “Why won’t his body come home? Anyway rest in peace to his soul.”
According to Terum Otito, “So bad. So, his body will be laid to rest in a foreign land like someone who is lost. that mean he doesn’t belong to a family. No home.”
“Why buried in far away London? Did he sin against his father’s land?” Malachy Udoka Eze asked.
Chigozie Nelson expressed concurrence with Malachy Eze saying “What a shameful burial in UK. Shame to his first son and household.”
“How can you bury him in UK and expect him to Rest in Peace?” Cyril Chino asked.
Born on January 21, 1935, Peter Osajele Aizegbeobor Enahoro, who died on April 24, 2023, was born on 21 January 1935 to a political family of Enahoro in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria. He was a journalist, author, businessman and publisher.
Also known by the pen name “Peter Pan” because of his popular column in New African magazine, Peter Enahoro has been variously described as “perhaps Africa’s best known international journalist”.
His Esan parents, Asuelimen Okotako Enahoro and Princess Inibokun (née Okojie] were educators. His maternal grandfather, Ogbidi Okojie, was the Onogie of Uromi,
His eldest brother, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was a statesman and politician, Anthony moved the motion in the parliament that resulted to for Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
Peter had a stint at St. Stephens Elementary School, Akure (Ondo State); CMS Primary School, Ado-Ekiti (Ondo State); Government School, Ekpoma (Edo State), St. David’s School, Akure (Ondo State), Government School, Warri (Delta State), before graduating from Government College, Ughelli (Delta State) in 1948.
Enahoro started his career in media as an Assistant Publicity Officer in the Federal Ministry of Information in 1954.
He joined Daily Times as a sub-editor in 1955, at the age of 20, before moving on to serve as Assistant District Manager at Rediffusion Services, Ibadan, in 1957..
He became the Editor of the Nigerian Sunday Times in 1958 at the age of 23, and Features Editor of the Daily Times in 1958, then the paper’s Editor in 1962, going on to become the Daily Times Group Editorial Adviser in 1965, and in 1966 Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times.
In the 1960s, Enahoro went into a self-imposed exile that would last for 13 years.
He was Contributing Editor of Radio Deutsche Welle in Cologne, Germany, from 1966 to 1976, and was Africa Editor of National Zeitung, in Basel, Switzerland, becoming Editorial Director of New African magazine in London in 1978.
In 1981, he launched a pan-African news magazine called Africa Now.
He later became Sole Administrator of Daily Times Nigeria Plc in 1996 during the military regime of late General Sanni Abacha.
His “Peter Pan” column that he began writing in 1959 steered feathers among the political big-wigs. He authored How to be a Nigerian (1966), You Gotta Cry to Laugh (1972), The Complete Nigerian (1992) and Spoke the Thunder (2009).
About Author
