I have been secretary, president, chairman, poster paster, leafleteer, pamphleteer, agitator, mobiliser, organiser, in my universities of struggle in which my Faculties included NANS and NUJ; never betraying the collective cause and always speaking truth to the powers that be to the best of my ability. I have been a socialist, Marxist, Trostkyist, Internationalist, and will remain so for the rest of my life, ever proud to be a foundation member of the Democratic Socialist Movement.

I have been abducted, arrested and detained while fighting for students, youths, journalists, workers and the masses. I absolutely have no regrets although there were tactical mistakes.

I have fought, and been fought. I have led, and been led. I have educated, and been educated. I have learnt and I am still learning in the university of life.

I have been choir member, cross bearer and Aafaa in my universities of religion. I have watched stage dramas, and have been watched on stage by others as Alore in  ‘Kiriji’ and as Jomi, the King Sasa of Esaland in ‘The Son of Slave Parents’ in my secondary school days. I continue to love drama and for close to a year now, me and my family have been engrossed with ‘Itura’ the story of an epic  battle for power in ‘Ibaokuta’. Perhaps it is because the play is set in the shadows of Kiriji war but I also love it for its expose on how people would stop at nothing to grab power; and how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Watch ‘Itura’ and you would understand why the political elite behave irresponsibly and why we continue to labour to get it right at elections.

I have been a lover of sports, especially football; and I have been a fan of Rangers International of Enugu and Arsenal. I have also at some point been a fan of AC Milan due to the Dutch trio – Gullit, Rikaard and Marco Van Basten. But my all time best footballers are Ayesimoju Patrick, nicknamed ‘System’ and Aisegame Jimoh both of my secondary school; Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Ronaldinho (my main star), Iniesta and Socrates. Hobby-wise, I remain a lover of aviation, drama and dancing. Nature-wise, I continue to laugh heartily. Music-wise, I remain at home with afro-beat, jazz, country music and traditional beats, my Nigerian top three being Fela, Sunny and Orlando. Movie-wise, I have been captivated by Mary Lazarus, Femi Jacobs and Olu Jacobs.

READ ALSO: Arogundade, the King of Boys, @ 60, By Tunde Akanni

I have travelled widely, and I have missed possible fatal fate in road accidents, boat mishap and at least one aircraft crash-landing.

I have read volumes of literature, and I have been privileged to be read by some others as author of three books – ‘Fela: Yesterday’s Message as Today’s Reality’; ‘Media and Elections – The Professional Responsibilities of Journalists’ and ‘Breaking Your Head With Coconut (Akowe’s Journey in Student Unionism). I hope and pray to be able to write more.

I have been lucky with my understanding beautiful wife and beautiful daughters- Ogunsola, Omolola and Eniola. I have been very lucky with my supportive siblings – Titilayo, Ayodele, Olamide, Adesola, Ayodeji and Folashade. I have been blessed with amiable in-laws – the Ogunsanwos. I have been very lucky to have wonderful close friends, associates, colleagues and comrades. I have been privileged to work with cooperating staff and board at the International Press Centre. Together, as women and men, and as young and old we continue to make a strong case for freedom of expression, freedom of the press, media independence, safety of journalists and access to information.

I would forever cherish attending Saint Paul’s Primary School, Osi-Ekiti; Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti; Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo; the University of Ife – Great Ife; the University of Ibadan… and now Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

I am glad that my journalism career has taken me through The Republic Newspapers, National Concord, Vanguard Newspapers, Voice of America, Panos Radio, World Parliamentarian, African Flames, among others.

As I clock 61, I look back at an eventful life and cannot but be thankful to ASEDAAYE.

I remain proud of my roots in the Arogundade-Oginni-Oshungboun, Adegbuwa, Ayoade and Abu families of Ijebu-Jesa, Odogo, Ilesa and Iwoye-Ijesa where my great parents, the primus inter pares Thomas Akinyemi and Layoonu Hannah hailed from. Of course I remain exceedingly proud of Osi-Ekiti, the town of my birth and childhood.

I proudly live with double ORÍKÌ

Èmi lomo Ijebu-Egboro

Omo awúre fáse banu

Èmi lomo gberebuutu íso bii yan ati rònà òkè Ìlóro

Èmi lomo Osi-Asise

Omo Elégbèrin ooho

Omo amúdá sílè mógun enu pani

Omo olúmolè méjì tako tabo

As I clock 61, I look back at an eventful life and cannot but be thankful to ASEDAAYE. Of course I thank all who have made the journey worthwhile.

The post EXTRA: @61… A testimonial, By Lanre Arogundade appeared first on Frontpageng.

The ex-FC Barcelona and Paris St-Germain (PSG) player was in Belo Horizonte, where he played for local side Atletico Mineiro, when he got his diagnosis.

“I arrived in BH (Belo Horizonte) yesterday (Saturday) and I took the COVID test, I tested positive, I am good, asymptomatic so far,” the two-times FIFA World Player of the year said on Sunday.

The former AC Milan, Flamengo and Gremio player said he would remain in a hotel until his condition improved.

The charismatic forward spent a month in a Paraguayan jail with his brother and business manager earlier this year, accused of entering country with a fake passport.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The former Paris St-Germain (PSG) forward’s lawyers are however hopeful he may soon be released into house arrest while the investigation continues.

“In broad terms he is doing very well,” prison warden Blas Vera told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“I see he is in good spirits, just like you see him on television, always smiling.”

Vera said Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis, who were arrested on Friday for using a false Paraguayan passport, would present their case to a judge on Tuesday.

Their lawyer Sergio Queiroz told Reuters they had asked a court to release them into house arrest and offered guarantees they were not a flight risk.

Vera said the 39-year old former AC Milan player and his brother had beds, a television and a fan in their cell at the prison on the outskirts of the capital Asuncion.

The brothers use a communal bathroom and have the right to use the outdoor patio on a regular basis.

The pair’s lawyers have provided them with meals and they have not eaten the food offered by the jail.

The maximum security facility has around 195 detainees, including politicians and police officers accused of corruption as well as major drug traffickers.

The more dangerous prisoners are housed in a different wing to Ronaldinho, Vera said, adding that he was working to ensure the pair’s stay is “as comfortable as possible”.

Carlos Gamarra, the former captain of Paraguay’s national team who also played for several Brazilian clubs, visited Ronaldinho with a group of ex-players in jail on Sunday.

Vera said others who were at the regular Sunday visiting time befriended the Brazilian.

“There was also a group of boys and girls and he welcomed them, gave them hugs and chatted with them,” he said.

Ronaldinho, who was last year named a tourist ambassador by Brazil’s far-right government, arrived in Paraguay on Wednesday, invited to the landlocked South American nation by a local casino owner.

Although he last played professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho, who also represented Brazilian clubs Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, is still hugely popular with global football fans and advertisers.

He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2006.

Ronaldinho was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The ex-FC Barcelona forward was arrested on Friday for attempting to enter Paraguay with a false passport two days earlier.

He spent Friday night in a police cell along with his brother and business manager, Roberto Assis.

The pair asked to be released into house arrest but that was rejected by the judge, who also dismissed Assis’s claims to have a heart problem because he showed no proof.

Judge Clara Ruiz Diaz said their alleged offence was a “serious one against the interests of the Paraguayan state.”

“Because the pair posed a flight risk they must remain in custody,’’ she added.

Under Paraguayan law, officials now have six months to complete their investigation.

But Ronaldinho’s lawyers, who called the decision “incredible,” are expected to present an appeal in the coming days.

“He (Ronaldinho) doesn’t understand what’s going on,” Tarek Tuma told reporters.

Saturday’s courtroom drama came after an astonishing four days that began on Wednesday when the duo attempted to enter Paraguay with doctored passports.

They were detained but a prosecutor who believed they were tricked into taking the fake documents recommended they be released after receiving an alternative punishment such as paying a fine to charity.

A judge, though, rejected that idea late on Friday and shortly afterwards the pair were arrested.

A police official told local media the pair had been placed in a cell with one other inmate.

They were given soap, cushions and repellent to protect against mosquitoes.

Although workers at the facility took selfies with the famous detainee, officials said the Brazilians did not receive any preferential treatment.

Paraguayan television showed the two men arriving in court in handcuffs at around noon local time on Saturday.

The brothers were invited to Paraguay by a local casino owner and had arrived on Wednesday to take part in a football clinic for children and a book launch.

Although he last played professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho, who also represented Brazilian clubs Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, is still hugely popular with global football fans for his skills and showmanship.

The 39-year-old was named FIFA world player of the year in 2004 and 2005.

He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2006.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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