The remains of Gabriel Omohinmi have been buried in Ewu, Edo North, South South Nigeria.
During his years in Voice of Nigeria, broadcasting House , Ikoyi, Lagos in the late 1990s, Hannatu Isiyaku, added the words ” My Predicament” to the names of Gabriel Omohinmi, popularly called Gabby.
The pronouncement was made in the newsroom. We were all taken by surprise and demanded to know from Hannatu why the new name was added. Gabby himself burst into heavy laughter. The entire newsroom went dead. Hannatu said Gabriel has refused to back off her. Gabby loves women and drinks.Mama Chinyere’s shop at the broadcasting house Ikoyi testified to this. End of story.
Born to a Muslim family in Ewu, within Auchi, Edo North and named Jubril by the Maullim, the mother belongs to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria. As an adult, he changed his religion to Christianity and renamed Gabriel.
Masters of the Craft
I met Gabby first as an intern in Voice of Nigeria in 1993. He was the Senior Political Correspondent in the Reportorial Corps of the News Directorate. I learnt he was head hunted from the Guardian newspapers by the late Tunji Oseni, the Director of News then. He writes well and noted for through investigate stories.
Once I became a full staff member by 1994, I was posted to Reportorial Corps under the supervision of Victor Kodesoh.
Gabriel understands the nuances of Nigerian politics and the politics of the journalists union, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, as well as the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE. His analyses of the June 12 debacle and News Commentaries were apt.
Within the NUJ National and State Council, Gabby was a household name. He has travelled the length and breadth of the country to attend delegate conferences. He was an encyclopaedia of such, giving graphic details and sharing perspectives. The emergence of the late Ladi Lawal as NUJ president in Sokoto in 1994 and loss of presidential election by Mrs Funke Fadugba twice were great pointers. I was surprised that Lagos Council of NUJ with numbers and support could not win the election for Mrs, Fadugba. However, Hannatu Isiyaku won the Treasurer position .
Trust Gabby, he was a witness to history in the Nigerian and NUJ political scenes. His political and professional contacts are unassailable.
I got the tutelage of understanding the job and NUJ politics from him and others. He provided guidance for my emergence as the Chairman NUJ Lagos State Council in 2017.
A polygot
He was a complete Nigerian and great journalist, with good language skills. He speaks English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and passable Arabic languages. These assisted him greatly to move around easily and navigate out of trouble when the need arises.
A fighter and Augmentative personality
Gabriel Omohinmi fought many battles during his service years as a journalist in the Daily Times, The Guardian and at Voice of Nigeria. He left VON to pursue an academic programme in media studies at the then PAN Atlantic University, PAU, Lagos, where I was an adjunct faculty for three years.
As it was on his job, so was it on his health and survival. The heavy consumptions of alcohol affected his health in the latter years. I noted this early as a junior colleague, drawing his attention to it. Surprisingly, he quoted a verse of the Holy Qur’an on drinking -(Kullu Washrabu… Meaning eat and drink…) to justify his habit . But I replied him that the deeper meaning of the verse was to eat and drink moderately.
I am happy his media friends and colleagues rallied round him till his death, paying the huge medical bill for the release of his corpse at the hospital.
Gabby, came , saw and conquered.
That was the life and times of late (Jubril) Gabriel Omohinmi in my perspective.
Qasim Akinreti, PhD
Deputy Director Digital Media Voice of Nigeria
