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| Tunde Fagbenle |
Until January 2016, Mr. Tunde Fagbenle was a popular
columnist with the highly esteemed PUNCH Newspaper. Every week for the past 20
years he has written a fiery and pungent column on the back page of Sunday Punch Newspaper. His last column
ran on Sunday 17th January and on Wednesday 20th January
he got an embarrassing email from the Opinion and Editorial page editor of the
paper stopping his column “with
immediate effect”. That was how Tunde
Fagbenle who will be 70 next year did not sign off his column. He has since
moved on with no bitter feelings “I have taken it in good faith” he explained
to Dr. Seye Kehinde, the Publisher
of Nigeria highest selling society magazine, CITY PEOPLE during an exclusive
encounter with the veteran journalist in Lagos.
columnist with the highly esteemed PUNCH Newspaper. Every week for the past 20
years he has written a fiery and pungent column on the back page of Sunday Punch Newspaper. His last column
ran on Sunday 17th January and on Wednesday 20th January
he got an embarrassing email from the Opinion and Editorial page editor of the
paper stopping his column “with
immediate effect”. That was how Tunde
Fagbenle who will be 70 next year did not sign off his column. He has since
moved on with no bitter feelings “I have taken it in good faith” he explained
to Dr. Seye Kehinde, the Publisher
of Nigeria highest selling society magazine, CITY PEOPLE during an exclusive
encounter with the veteran journalist in Lagos.
PUNCH in her characteristic of using
and dumping people without feeling or emotion did not tell Mr. Fagbenle what his offence is or why his column was suspended.
He in turn has not asked PUNCH why he was treated in such manner. He has since
float an NGO to help return Nigeria back to the path of ethics and values.
and dumping people without feeling or emotion did not tell Mr. Fagbenle what his offence is or why his column was suspended.
He in turn has not asked PUNCH why he was treated in such manner. He has since
float an NGO to help return Nigeria back to the path of ethics and values.
The CITY PEOPLE Publisher Dr. Seye Kehinde ran into the gangling
veteran columnist, journalist and advertising guru a few days ago at an event
and he was asked why he stopped writing for PUNCH. That was what led the goatee
wearing Ibadan based journalist to open up on his dramatic sack by PUNCH
management after 20 years of meritorious service without a single query. Like
the KEMI ASHEFON’s case which birthed on this blog yesterday, Asabeafrika presents to you the sad
story of how PUNCH Newspaper maltreated yet another gifted Nigerian journalist.
Enjoy the excerpts.
veteran columnist, journalist and advertising guru a few days ago at an event
and he was asked why he stopped writing for PUNCH. That was what led the goatee
wearing Ibadan based journalist to open up on his dramatic sack by PUNCH
management after 20 years of meritorious service without a single query. Like
the KEMI ASHEFON’s case which birthed on this blog yesterday, Asabeafrika presents to you the sad
story of how PUNCH Newspaper maltreated yet another gifted Nigerian journalist.
Enjoy the excerpts.
Many People were surprised that you
stopped writing for PUNCH Newspaper in January this year. Why did you stop
writing?
stopped writing for PUNCH Newspaper in January this year. Why did you stop
writing?
That is a
question I really don’t have answers for, other than the fact that it is not my
own making. In all honesty, I have no
answer for it. I don’t know what went
wrong, other than the fact that it is not my making. PUNCH decided that they I didn’t
ask and it has not been made known to me.
question I really don’t have answers for, other than the fact that it is not my
own making. In all honesty, I have no
answer for it. I don’t know what went
wrong, other than the fact that it is not my making. PUNCH decided that they I didn’t
ask and it has not been made known to me.
“He has my telephone number. He is my
aburo and he calls me Egbon, Egbon
for him not to call me if they have anything against my writing still puzzles
me. I have never had any query or queries. And they have never called me to say
they have any reservation about my writings or my style or my tendency”
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| Tunde Fagbenle |
Why didn’t you ask? You are close to
PUNCH?
PUNCH?
No, I
didn’t. With the relationship I have with PUNCH that dates back to the years of
the founding fathers of PUNCH, I didn’t think it was a decent way to end a
relationship of that length and someone of my standing, with all humility. That
was how it was decided. I just received an email from someone I don’t know and
who is very junior in the stable saying they had a meeting and it was decided
that ‘your column should be rested with immediate effect and automatic
alacrity, thank you for your service’ and all that. I thought it would
not be appropriate for me to now be the one waiting to know why I was sacked or
to be calling around. That would be a bit un-dignifying of me, knowing my place
with PUNCH. It is a 20 years writing relationship. I have been writing for 20
years. At least 16 of those 20 years I wrote the column with the PUNCH when
things were bad and we saw thing improve. So, we have shared the bad and good
times. While I was in exile I was still writing for 20 years. The only time I
broke off was when I ran for senate in 2003 and PUNCH decided that, okay, they
didn’t want a politician to be holding a column. I was seen as a politician. I
didn’t mind. So, for 2 to 3 years I broke off, during which it appeared in Tribune
and Trust
(syndicated) until PUNCH decided you can have it back. I think that was in
2007. So, its been 20 years all told. Its probably one of the longest running
columns; and for most of that period, to also be on the back page was a very
significant thing. So, it became a brand on its own. Their boss was the one who
actually started the column years ago and if they now chose to end it so be it.
They have the right to. I am only a columnist. He has my telephone number. He
is my aburo and he calls me Egbon,
Egbon for him not to call me if they have anything against my writing still
puzzles me. I have never had any query or queries.
didn’t. With the relationship I have with PUNCH that dates back to the years of
the founding fathers of PUNCH, I didn’t think it was a decent way to end a
relationship of that length and someone of my standing, with all humility. That
was how it was decided. I just received an email from someone I don’t know and
who is very junior in the stable saying they had a meeting and it was decided
that ‘your column should be rested with immediate effect and automatic
alacrity, thank you for your service’ and all that. I thought it would
not be appropriate for me to now be the one waiting to know why I was sacked or
to be calling around. That would be a bit un-dignifying of me, knowing my place
with PUNCH. It is a 20 years writing relationship. I have been writing for 20
years. At least 16 of those 20 years I wrote the column with the PUNCH when
things were bad and we saw thing improve. So, we have shared the bad and good
times. While I was in exile I was still writing for 20 years. The only time I
broke off was when I ran for senate in 2003 and PUNCH decided that, okay, they
didn’t want a politician to be holding a column. I was seen as a politician. I
didn’t mind. So, for 2 to 3 years I broke off, during which it appeared in Tribune
and Trust
(syndicated) until PUNCH decided you can have it back. I think that was in
2007. So, its been 20 years all told. Its probably one of the longest running
columns; and for most of that period, to also be on the back page was a very
significant thing. So, it became a brand on its own. Their boss was the one who
actually started the column years ago and if they now chose to end it so be it.
They have the right to. I am only a columnist. He has my telephone number. He
is my aburo and he calls me Egbon,
Egbon for him not to call me if they have anything against my writing still
puzzles me. I have never had any query or queries.
“I thought it would not be
appropriate for me to now be the one waiting to know why I was sacked or to be
calling around. That would be a bit un-dignifying of me, knowing my place with
PUNCH. It is a 20 years writing relationship. I have been writing for 20 years.
At least 16 of those 20 years I wrote the column with the PUNCH when things
were bad and we saw thing improve”.
And they have never called
me to say they have any reservation about my writings or my style or my
tendency. They must have their reasons. I am actually not the kind of person
you will find in the corridors of power. I don’t peddle the column.
me to say they have any reservation about my writings or my style or my
tendency. They must have their reasons. I am actually not the kind of person
you will find in the corridors of power. I don’t peddle the column.
So, my
conscience is clear. I think it was not a good way to terminate a long standing
relationship. Since then it has been a deluge of calls from my readers. I feel bad that I was not allowed to at
least, sign off the column and terminate a column like that with a large
followership. Without signing off, what has happened is that all the calls I
have received, it has been thrown at me that I just stopped writing, as if I
was the one that disrespected my readers and just took a walk. To all my
readers, I apologize. I have been
telling all those who have been accusing me to turn their enquiries to
PUNCH. But I have no ill-feelings. I
must confess. I have moved on. I have floated an NGO. I have channeled my
energy into other things. (Laughs)
conscience is clear. I think it was not a good way to terminate a long standing
relationship. Since then it has been a deluge of calls from my readers. I feel bad that I was not allowed to at
least, sign off the column and terminate a column like that with a large
followership. Without signing off, what has happened is that all the calls I
have received, it has been thrown at me that I just stopped writing, as if I
was the one that disrespected my readers and just took a walk. To all my
readers, I apologize. I have been
telling all those who have been accusing me to turn their enquiries to
PUNCH. But I have no ill-feelings. I
must confess. I have moved on. I have floated an NGO. I have channeled my
energy into other things. (Laughs)
“But you see, running a column in the
manner that I ran on the back page was a lot of responsibility and the
visibility was high so it is not something you trifle with. It takes a lot
seriousness and concern about the readers. You have to have your readers on
your mind. You don’t ride above your readers”
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| Tunde Fagbenle |
Let’s talk about what it takes to
write a column like yours for 20 years. A lot of people will want to know how
you write. Is it in the night? Is it during the day? How do you get inspired?
It takes a
lot to keep a column going. The discipline is tough. There is nothing like
writing when you feel like writing, leisurely, without any whip on your back.
But when it comes to deadline, writing is tortuous. Professor Biodun Jayefo captured
it very well in one of his columns recently when he was crying over the torture
column writing exerts on people. When you keep a weekly column you will find
out that a week is a very short period. Before you know it, your deadline is up
again. And your brain is blank, your mind is blank. Over the years you get used
to it. I like to write in the middle of the night when it is all calm. Its nice
when you have something on your mind a couple of days to the deadline, and you
have been turning that in your mind, so you are able to build it up.
lot to keep a column going. The discipline is tough. There is nothing like
writing when you feel like writing, leisurely, without any whip on your back.
But when it comes to deadline, writing is tortuous. Professor Biodun Jayefo captured
it very well in one of his columns recently when he was crying over the torture
column writing exerts on people. When you keep a weekly column you will find
out that a week is a very short period. Before you know it, your deadline is up
again. And your brain is blank, your mind is blank. Over the years you get used
to it. I like to write in the middle of the night when it is all calm. Its nice
when you have something on your mind a couple of days to the deadline, and you
have been turning that in your mind, so you are able to build it up.
But you see,
running a column in the manner that I ran on the back page was a lot of
responsibility and the visibility was high so it is not something you trifle
with. It takes a lot seriousness and concern about the readers. You have to
have your readers on your mind. You don’t ride above your readers. And I think
that is one of the reasons my column, probably endeared itself to many people
because I tried to straddle both the high and the low and I make it as simple
as possible in my writing. I don’t get too academic or too highfalutin. But you
have to also be mindful that the readers are watching and noticing so if you
become tired and deviating, it wont be long before they realize. It is a relief
that I am on holiday now. Now, I sleep well. For now, I am enjoying the
pleasure.
running a column in the manner that I ran on the back page was a lot of
responsibility and the visibility was high so it is not something you trifle
with. It takes a lot seriousness and concern about the readers. You have to
have your readers on your mind. You don’t ride above your readers. And I think
that is one of the reasons my column, probably endeared itself to many people
because I tried to straddle both the high and the low and I make it as simple
as possible in my writing. I don’t get too academic or too highfalutin. But you
have to also be mindful that the readers are watching and noticing so if you
become tired and deviating, it wont be long before they realize. It is a relief
that I am on holiday now. Now, I sleep well. For now, I am enjoying the
pleasure.
(Culled from CITY PEOPLE Magazine)
