TRIBUTE: ‘Fisayo Soyombo, A Journalist Who Knows His Onions By Kolawole Ojebisi

TRIBUTE: ‘Fisayo Soyombo, A Journalist Who Knows His Onions By Kolawole Ojebisi

Time, grand old mischievous master, has played its trick on us again. The wheel of day-day routine has turned full circle giving us cause to cheer and celebrate our own ‘Fisayo  Soyombo.

Therefore, drum roll, bring out the maracas, sound the bugle for the assemblage of army of accomplished journalists scattered across the country, unfurl the red carpet, all for ‘Fisayo Soyombo, who is a year older today.

Mr Fisayo has paid his dues in journalism. He started from scratch and rose through the ranks of journalism. The trajectory of his journalistic career can be traced from his days as a stringer at The Guardian Nigeria, to his years at Harpostrope Limited, The Jobmag, The Will and The Flair as news editor. He moved to the Cable and ICIR to serve as Editor.

He is a leader worth his salt. The managing editor of SaharaReporters radiates a kind of affectionate warmth in which everyone around him will love to bask in because it puts them at ease.He radiates a kind of affectionate warmth in which everyone around him will love to bask in, because it puts them at ease. He is neither bossy nor dictatorial. He is a wonderful motivator; every task well executed gets a ‘thank you’ from him and every request is politely made. However, you will be seriously mistaken to think he is lax, for he does not condone indolence and all manner of perfunctoriness. He abhors halfhearted approaches to work. No wonder he is a firm believer in the Biblical dictum ‘enshrined’ in Ecclesiastes 9: 10 — “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”.  He has called himself a perfectionist a number of times and he, indeed, is. Not that he has hit the mark, but his gaze is unwaveringly fastened on it; he knows what it looks like and strives for it.

A journalist of 14 years — or thereabouts — standing and multiple award winner. A visit to the internet will bear this claim out. Thank God the world, courtesy of the internet, has been reduced, literally, to the size of a fist. Just input his name to the google bar and the sheer number of awards and journalistic exploits to his credit that will pop up will take your breath away. Almost every year, his name makes it to the list of young journalists or media practitioners making waves in Nigeria and even Africa at large. On the strength of his achievement in his chosen career, he is already on the launch pad of immortality; he has carved a niche for himself. And when you remember he is not 40 yet, you cannot but doff your hat. Yet, he has refused to rest on his laurels or let his achievements go to his head.

He is an epitome of humility. What manner of man will, every morning, while resuming to work make the news room, the habitat of his subordinates, his first port of call to say hi before heading for his office to settle down to the day’s work? An ardent Liverpool fan, he doesn’t consider it demeaning to taunt a subordinate who is a fan of another club about their last night’s woeful performance or be made the butt of playful and decent ridicule over Liverpool’s costly loss. He is not averse to banters with his subordinates too. Who does that except a man who marches to the beat of his own drum? This is a pleasant but unconventional leadership style, especially in a generation that erroneously defines being a boss as looking down your nose at your subordinates and turning them into a doormat with which you wipe your soiled soles. Mr ‘Fisayo is a different kettle of fish; he is a sensitive and solicitous manager and not a slave driver. But he does not suffer fools gladly; he knows when to put his foot down. The ability to strike a balance between assertiveness and fellow feeling is a reflection of his maturity.

‘Fisayo is a workaholic. He is one of the few people blessed with boundless, vital, responsive and irrepressible energy. His passion for journalism borders on obsession. Consumed with the passion for the profession, he has refused to use the intercom in his office. When there is a piece of news to break, he covers the distance separating his office and the newsroom in his accustomed purposeful stride, opens the door to the newsroom to announce, with a tone of urgency in his voice, 'Breaking!'. How he has managed to do this consistently for many years without buckling under the strain of the arduous task is beyond me.

Though Journalism is the profession ‘Fisayo is enamoured of, Investigative Journalism is his province. This is a branch of journalism that demands unerring meticulousness and abhors dithering. And nothing reflects this better than the way he couches his prose. His style relies more on the careful use of the apt words rather than on barrages of hit-and-miss verbiage. His style reminds you of the old veterans in the field; it is a blend of Ray Ekpu’s crispness and Dan Agbese’s choppiness. A prose as beautiful and delicious as the mind that churns it out. We call him a fantastic writer for want of a better description.

Happy birthday, Mr ‘Fisayo. May the Divine guide you in everything that has to do with choice. May you never choose amiss. May the magnitude of your success confound your detractors, may they be left in the slip-stream of your greatness. The wine of life is full-bodied, may you not be tempted to take a gulp and take a hasty exit; may you drink the wine of life to the dregs. May you live life to the lees. Once gain, happy birth day my boss. Do have a blast.

Kolawole Ojebisi can be reached via lordlarry2013@gmail.com

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