Sixty Years in One Garment: Integrity, By Sufuyan Ojeifo

I have turned 60. And my heart is filled with joy.

To my family, my friends, my colleagues, and all the well-wishers who stood with me to celebrate my Diamond Jubilee — thank you. No amount of words can repay God, and no amount of thanks can be enough for the good people He has clothed me with.

The Yoruba say: “Eniyan ni aso eye ti a fi n bo ra.” Human beings are the garment of honour with which we clothe ourselves. That honour is not bought. It is nurtured by the integrity of the heart, the purpose, and the deed.

I thank God for the grace to be guided by what Scripture calls the most significant virtue of life.

In Genesis 20:5, King Abimelech of Gerar defended himself before God, saying he took Sarah “in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” In 1 Chronicles 29:17, King David tells God, “you test the heart and delight in uprightness.” And Psalm 78:72 records that David “shepherded them with integrity of heart.”

Integrity is better than wealth. Better than profit. Better than any shortcut. Honest living brings peace that money cannot buy and respect that does not fade when the money is gone.

—When the Test Came—

Tributes poured in torrents over the last week. In the written ones, the published ones and the spoken ones, one word kept coming back: integrity. I am eternally grateful to God and to you for seeing it in my life and work.

God has tested me. Twice, in very public ways.

When I served as Media Adviser to the late Chief Tony Anenih, the Leader, I had access and I had trust. One day, money was given to me for newspaper adverts. By mistake, the person who gave it to me added N1,000,000 more than the approved sum, but recorded only the approved amount in the book.

The next day, after paying for the adverts, I noticed the bag was still heavy. I found the excess. I returned the N1,000,000. The Leader was so pleased. From that day, he brought me much closer. Trust, once earned, opens doors that money cannot.

The same test came with the late Captain Hosa Okunbo. He thought media exposure was impossibly expensive until we sat down and I forced a revision of that assumption. He began to, as much as possible, pass every media proposal through me for scrutiny, just to ensure he was not being ripped off. He needed someone whose hands were clean.

There have been others. For over three decades in journalism and reputation management, it has only been the grace of God that has kept me.

—Slaughtering the Elephant Together—

You all helped me “slaughter the elephant.” Because of your love, we did three things in thanksgiving:

1. We visited an orphanage.

2. We held a thanksgiving service in church.

3. We decided to institute a scholarship foundation in memory of my late parents at my alma mater, A.U.D. Comprehensive High School, Owo, Ondo State.

In spite of the economic strangulation in the country right now, you still spared millions and thousands of naira. You sacrificed.

The Yoruba have a way of saying thank you that never ends. We thank you today, we thank you tomorrow, and we will thank you again the next time we see you, just to remind you that we have not forgotten.

—My Roll Call of Honour—

To my brothers and friends who stood financially with me, I mention you with gratitude and pride:

Mr. Adebowale Olujimi [CEO, Emadeb Energy Group], Mr. Femi Soneye [Former NNPCL Spokesperson], Dr. Adebowale Adedokun [DG, Bureau of Public Procurement], Engineer Tunji Ariyomo [Former SA to Gov. Segun Agagu/Coordinator, Ondo IT Dev. Centre], Mr. Chuks Akunna [Executive Director, Authority Newspaper], Prince Kassim Afegbua [Commissioner for Information, Edo State], Dr. Ernest Umakhihe [Retired Fed. Perm. Sec. & APC Chieftain, Edo], Dr. Elizabeth Onome Ebosele [Commissioner for Budget & Economic Planning, Edo State], Mr. Austyn Ogannah [Publisher, THE WILL], Dr Iyobosa Rex Uwugiaren [Abuja Editor of THISDAY, Mr. Ayo Ojeikere [Lagos-based businessman], Mr. Kola Harry [USA], Mr. Hammed Akewusola [USA], Barr. Osa Director [National Publicity Secretary, NDC], Mr. Adamson Adeboro [SAN], Ms. Ibiso Dakoru [UK], Mr. Makinde Adenola [Canada], Alhaji Yusuf Alli [Regional Editor, THE NATION], Mr. Dotun Oladipo [Publisher, Eagle Online], Mr. Jimmy Enyeh [Publisher, National Waves], Mr. Ayodele Ojo [Publisher, THE STAR], Dr. Horatius Egua [Director, Special Duties, NCAA], Barr. Peter Abulu [DG, Edo Liaison Office, Abuja], Prof. Godwin Sogolo [Emeritus Prof. of Philosophy, NOUN], Dr. Lanre Adekanye [Retired Director, Int’l Cooperation, Fed. Min. of Budget & Economic Planning], Mrs. Uduak Etokowoh [Retired Director, NIPC], Mr. Emmah Adah [Deputy Editor-in-Chief, THE CONGRESSWATCH], Comrade Tony Erha [Managing Editor, THE CONCLAVE], Mr. Abdulrahman Rajab [NDIC], Barr. Wale Ojo-Lanre [DG, Ekiti Tourism Development Bureau], Ms. Grace Ike [Chairperson, FCT Council of NUJ], Ms. Ndidi Okafor [Director of Security at INEC], Mr. Crispin Oduobuk [former Acting Editor at Trust newspapers] and Mma Otisi [Abuja-based businesswoman].

Your financial support has kept the proposed Scholarship Foundation alive.

I thank you profoundly. I have your back. May the Almighty God honour you and yours, and give us the grace to always be there for one another.

At 60, I have learned this: “Aso eye” — the garment of honour — is integrity. And by God’s grace, I intend to keep wearing it.

I remain eternally grateful.