Ode To Minere Amakiri

It was a  rude  shock when I stumbled on a  piece of information on Sunday, August 20, 2011, announcing the passing away of a veteran journalist and publisher of the Port Harcourt based weekly newspaper, The Beacon, Mr Minere Amakiri. It was certainly an unpleasant way to start a new week. I left the newsstand instantly, with a recurring question in my mind, “Has Oga Minere gone also”?

Only a few weeks earlier, the media family lost one of its brightest professionals, Eriye Iyaye. Months back, it was Berepele Davies.  There is no doubt that the demise of Minere has depleted further the rank of those we hold in very high esteem in journalism profession.

I count myself lucky to have met Amakiri in his life time. As a young man, I still remember Amakiri’s encounter with a military governor who ordered that Amakiri be given 24 strokes  of cane and had his head shaved with an old razor blade for reporting an ‘unpleasant’ story on the governor’s birthday. Thereafter, he was bundled into detention. The story till date, sounds like a folk tale.

Amakiri was a daring and fearless professional in the mold of our forebearers, particularly in the anti-colonial and post colonial eras which were driven by  dictatorship and high intolerance for human rights.

Distasteful as Amakiri’s humiliation in the hands of a military dictator was, it  made him an instant living legend and   a reference point beyond the shores of this land. Amakiri’s victory at the court, in a suit filed by Late Chief Gani Farehimni on behalf of the Newspapers Proprietors  Association of Nigeria (NPAN) against the Rivers State governor, permanently etches his name in the Press freedom hall of  fame.

Minere was one man, people, including Senator Magnus Abey and other distinguished citizens respected  and held in high esteem. I remember vividly the cordial relationship that existed  between Senator Abey and Amakiri when the former was Rivers State Commission for Information.

The few times I visited Amakiri in his office, I always  went  back edified, as he would freely share with me his experience on a wide range of issues. In him was this deep seated concern and worry over some pervasive unhealthy trends  in our society and the obvious implications it held for the generations yet unborn.

I was more attracted to him by his genuine humility and wonderful friendly nature. His passion for his country and profession and his uncommon and down-to- earth  attitude  of telling you how he felt on any subject, particularly on issues concerning governance, are worthy of emulation. In the practice of his cherished profession, he was  meticulous and a stickler to ethics.

It is unfortunate that Amakiri died at 62, the time the media family needed him most. Naturally, Minere would have loved to live to see the progress and growth of those who draw inspiration from his life and times. But he succumbed to inevitable death. Even though, he is no more, the landmarks  he left behind will continue to speak for him.

Oga Minere Amakiri, rest  in peace.

Ezekiel-Jenewari is of the Rivers State Ministry of Information.

Tonye Ezekiel-Jenewari