New African is gloomy to announce the passing of its former editor, the veteran Nigerian journalist Peter Enahoro. As a tribute, we republish right here the tribute that Ben Asante wrote in celebration of Peter’s eightieth birthday in 2015, wherein he reminisces on Peter’s years with us.
There may be by no means a uninteresting second with Peter Enahoro. I began working with Peter in 1978, when he requested me to affix him in London to function political editor of New African. On a go to to Nairobi the place I used to be then based mostly, Peter and his spouse Susanne got here to see my new child daughter, Janet. Peter stunned me with the job provide, which required my relocating to London.
However first he wished me to pack my luggage and be a part of him to cowl the OAU Summit, which was happening at the moment in Khartoum.
My earlier attendance of OAU Summits had been as an observer however Peter modified all of that. Interviewing and speaking with African leaders was a brand new expertise for me however this was one thing Peter was used to. Assembly the leaders and officers of liberation actions with Peter as facilitator was a thrill, and gave me a few of my most cherished skilled moments.
Again in London, Peter had assembled a crop of younger writers from varied components of Africa, all of their twenties like myself, to work on what was then referred to as African Improvement journal. Quickly after, it was renamed New African.
All of us bought into severe work and very quickly the circulation of New African elevated to new ranges. This development was undoubtedly additionally right down to Peter’s witty commentaries and thought-provoking editorials.
We have been working in an fascinating interval for Africa – the heady days of army coups and counter-coups. My own residence nation, Ghana, was not spared. Peter requested us to be on standby and go to any nation if occasions erupted unexpectedly.
We subsequently all the time needed to be prepared, luggage packed, to catch the following obtainable flight. Many instances Peter and I travelled collectively. At some airports, immigration officers routinely held again our passports and interrogated us.
However one in every of my best challenges was masking Nigeria, Peter’s nation of origin. From the very starting of our working relationship, Peter advised me that it was tougher to cowl one’s personal nation and that as an outsider, I might haven’t any axe to grind with Nigeria and do a greater job than him. He instructed all writers and journalists at New African to make sure balanced reporting of their protection. I thus started my protection of Nigerian politics at New African within the years of Obasanjo’s army authorities, persevering with via to Shagari’s administration.
However there was rather more to working beneath the doyen of journalism then. Peter opened doorways. With the mere point out of Peter’s title, even on the time of army governments I gained entry to main political and enterprise circles.
I can not say with easy phrases how a lot I learnt and took away from working with Peter at New African. Other than being hard-working, well mannered and having an infectious sense of humour, Peter was additionally cussed in his beliefs and rules. However he was additionally humble. For instance, regardless of being one in every of Africa’s most achieved journalists and columnists, an acknowledged grasp at his commerce, famend in Africa for his widespread column “Peter Pan” (which was additionally his pen-name), Peter nonetheless humbly requested others within the workplace to learn over his writings and commentaries earlier than going to press, for his or her opinion.
His years as Editor at New African have been exceptional and so was our wonderful working relationship, which was additional enhanced by the affable spirit of Afif Ben Yedder, the veteran founder and writer of New African, who like many different lovers of Africa and African journalism, joins in celebrating Peter’s milestone birthday.
Subsequently, for all the nice instances, the nice journalism and the selfless time he spent on serving to to develop New African, we are saying Hip Hip Hooray! to Peter. Could he stay for a lot of extra years to come back and maintain his journalistic enthusiasm and light-weight shining.
