‘It Is Difficult To Say This Is The Best Thing That Has Happened To Me’…Wole Arisekola on adding a year.

Recently many of many parts Wole Arisekola (Journalist, Socialite, Politician and Businessman) added a year. the connected individual in his mid forties talks about the journey so far, how drug trafficking made him give the entertainment industry a berth amongst other things in this interview conducted via E mail.

Que, How does it feel to be a year older?

Ans, Being a year older doesn’t really come with any different feeling. The only thing is that when you look back at where you were some years back, you will definitely have reasons to thank God. So, it doesn’t bring any new feeling, it just makes me realize that for each day one wakes up, he should give God the glory. And of course it is a pointer to the fact that one is getting older.

Que, Some see age as just additions of numbers- do you?

Ans, Well, it depends on how you look at it. There are young men who reason well and there are old men with warped ideas too. So that is to tell you that maturity is not about age. But when you look at it from another angle too, you will find out that the number is of equal importance too, if not, we won’t be saying a fool at 40 is a fool forever. What I am trying to say is that at certain points in one’s life, using age as a yardstick, one should have achieved some things. When those things are not there, the numerical aspect of your age keeps you on your toes and makes you understand that you need to strive harder to achieve some things.

Que, A respected Journalist and reputable businessman, do you have any regrets so far?

Ans, Regrets? I don’t believe there is any challenge that is insurmountable. Instead of spending time to regret after a fall, what a normal person should do is get up, strategize again and get going. When you look at it critically, the time spent regretting ends up as wasted time and time once lost can never be recovered. Nobody makes progress by regretting.

Que, Any particular achievement you find most fulfilling so far?

Ans, Well, I’ll say achievements like power belong to God and He gives it to whoever He pleases. To the glory of God, I have been the publisher of a magazine for more than ten years now; I am the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Europe Chapter and in business, I am not doing badly. One thing I thank God for is that everywhere I find myself, I try to better the lot of people, I try to contribute my quota and make sure the society is a better place. So I hope to continue to do that in whatever position God places me.

Que, What are the other things you’ll love to achieve in the next five, ten years?

Ans, The future belongs to God, that however does not mean as a human being one should not have projections. One thing I will continue to do is to make my society better, help those around me and contribute my quota to making Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria better.

Looking at our country, you’ll see that so many things still need to change. Though over the last few years, I have contributed in my own little way to the development of my community. I will continue to do my best in making life better and helping my people. One is not getting younger, so what I intend to do is to consolidate on what God has done for me. As far as ambitions are concerned, I just want to continue to better the lot of my people. It gives me great joy to see people around me doing well.

I can never forget what I was taught in my primary school in Yemetu, Ibadan. The school’s motto is “work and pray.” That is where most people miss it. They spend more time praying and less time working. Some even spend the time they should use at work to pray, meanwhile God said He will bless the works of your hands. So if there is no work, what do you expect God to bless? The two should go pari passu.

So I am moving on and of course, in the next few years, one should therefore be thinking of other ventures. At least we have seen Publishers who veered into other businesses, so doing the same shouldn’t be a big deal and by the time you are talking about, the businesses should have a strong footing.

Que, what is your most burning ambition?

Ans. You are probably trying to refer to my political aspiration years back, well, we decided to leave politics and face journalism full-time due to the kind of politics that was played then. Now that the era of godfatherism is gone in Oyo State politics and that of gangterism gradually winding up, I might consider serving my people and run for elective office.

You know, you cannot continue to sit on the fence and say things are not going as they should. If you want to correct things politically, you have to fet into the mainstream.

Que, As an internationally recognized journalist, what do you make of the profession in the country?

Ans. With all due respect, I’ll say Journalism in Nigeria is still a far cry from what it should be. We are moving but we are not there yet. A lot of things are militating against the practice in this country. The environment is not conducive-there is the danger of being killed in the line of duty, though there is no job without its own hazards. But what I am trying to say is that journalists should be well catered for so that even if anything happens, the journalist would know that his family would be well taken care of. Thank God for the insurance scheme that has now been set up for journalists, these are things that should have been in place long ago. If that is in place, reporters would go the extra mile to source for news.

I think laziness is also another factor. In some parts of the country, you see a lot of armchair journalism, where people just sit down and wait for news to come and meet them.

As journalists, we should be proactive but here, the reverse is the case. You find out that journalists are always reacting.

Journalists should also upgrade themselves to international standard. In this age, it is embarrassing to still find some journalists who cannot type their stories themselves. Who will type for you in Europe? Everything is digital, you won’t say no, I cannot take pictures because I am not a photojournalist. Journalists should always be ready for action.

Look at the coverage given to the unrest in North Africa and Ivory Coast by the western media. You see thee reporters working with enthusiasm.

Que, Do you entertain fear or hope for it in time to come?

Ans. Oh, I am optimistic that the future of journalism is bright in Nigeria. Now the days of reading yesterday’s news today have long gone. Everybody now clutches a Blackberry, an iPad or what have you. So as the news breaks, there is every probability of accessing it almost immediately. And now, most publications can be accessed on the web so there is an improvement. But like they say, there is still room for more improvement.

Que, Unlike others why don’t you celebrate your birthday or other such engagements with fanfare?

Ans. The greatest of all celebrations is to look inwards and thank God for each day He gives you to impact on the lives of others. What is the essence of celebrating with fanfare when there are people around who don’t even know where their next meal will come from?

Why not look for a way to make their lives better? Moreover, it is not in my character to make so much noise about such things. The Yorubas say wherever you find yourself, you are in the middle because some people have experienced it before you and some are still coming behind you. So what would the noise achieve for you?

Que, Journalism, business and politics – how do you balance the scale and remain faithful to ethics of each?

Ans. If you are a trained journalist, time management will never be your problem. So armed with the training and the zeal of a journalist, I chose to diversify and I went into business. One other thing is the zeal; you know as a journalist, you are trained to be enthusiastic, especially when sourcing for stories. When you approach everything with that zeal, you will surely get things done.

And when we talk of politics, we are all into it. The only difference is how deeply involved individuals are. When you plan your time, you won’t have any problem juggling business, journalism and politics.

The mistake we make in Nigeria is that politics is being taken as a profession. That is why people will do anything to perpetuate themselves in office, that is why elections have become do-or-die affairs. That is why Godfathers will ask their godsons to open the state vault for them. Politics should never be anybody’s profession and until we get that right, things might not change in this country.

Let me tell you, the key word in all these is discipline. When you operate within the ethos and credo of your profession, it is difficult for you to get your fingers burnt. I make sure I draw a line between pleasure and business. When you can do that, you are bound for the top.

Que, You came into public consciousness as a promoter of entertainment, you appear to have divorced yourself from that undertaking- and major reason?

Ans. I won’t agree with what you just said that I divorced myself from entertainment. I am still very much involved. Maybe if you said I chose to slow down a bit, I would have agreed. I am not completely detached. I am still involved.

As for the reasons, well, I am into some other ventures that take more of my time. But I really chose to slow down after some scandals started rocking the entertainment industry and showbiz personalities started becoming guests of anti-narcotic agents. I cannot afford to allow anything to tarnish my reputation and that of my country. But that is not to say I have taken a leave from showbiz.

Que, Reflecting back on your life, is there any anything you did that you’ll give anything to reverse?

Ans. I don’t think there is anything like that. There is no use crying over spilt milk and like they say, yesterday is like a spent cheque and tomorrow is like a promisory note which may never come. So since you’ve got today, make it count. I don’t thinnk there is anything I would wish I had done differently.

Que, Aside marriage and the children- what is the best thing that ever happened to you?

Ans. It’s difficult to say something is the best thing that has happened. But I thank God for everything that He has given me. Being at the top of my profession is one, because you cannot say you are better than the next person. Not only have I been a publisher for more than ten years now, I am the current Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe Chapter. And to the glory of God, my businesses are doing fine.

Que, Simple Mr Wole Arisekola- is that how you want to end up, no other appellation?

Ans. What does it matter? And who tells you I will not govern Oyo State one day?