A Tribute to Sufuyan Ojeifo at 59, By Abiodun Adeniyi

“His intolerance for folly is well known; Sufuyan does not suffer fools gladly.

His discipline is not confined to his professional life but extends to his diet, his attire, and even the company he keeps.

As a reporter, journalist, editor, and thinker, he embodies the ideals of the profession: accuracy, integrity, and courage.

His writing is marked by clarity of thought and sharpness of insight; his editing by meticulousness; his thinking by depth and originality.”

I have always delighted in calling his name in full, Sufuyan Ojeifo, because there is an inherent gravitas in that surname. Ojeifo rings with the same power as his pen, a surname that carries the cadence of conviction, the resonance of resolve. It is the echo of a man whose will is unbending, whose guts propel him fearlessly towards the goals he sets, and whose craft in journalism has carved him an enviable place in the annals of our profession.

Our journey together has been nothing short of eventful. We have walked, and sometimes raced, along the rugged, unpredictable path of journalism.

We have combed the streets of Abuja and navigated the labyrinthine corridors of power, hunting for the stories that mattered. In those early years, our dispatches to our respective newsrooms —his to The Vanguard and mine to The Guardian —often became the stuff of frenzied deadlines and spirited competition.

Yet, what began as professional rivalry ripened into a lifetime of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep-seated concern for each other’s well-being.

Sufuyan has been, without interruption, a paragon of piety, discipline, and principle. These virtues, coupled with his unflinching commitment to duty, earned him the apt sobriquet “O. J. Wonder”, a name that, to those who know him, encapsulates his ability to deliver with precision, passion, and remarkable consistency.

His loyalty is legendary, so unwavering that I often say, anyone fortunate enough to have Ojeifo in their corner may as well go to sleep in peace. He will remain your armour bearer, through seasons of both sunshine and storm. This quality was not lost on great men such as Chiefs Tony Anenih, Benjamin Apugo, Sunday Awoniyi and Captain Hosa Okunbo, each of whom benefited from his steadfast support, a loyalty that endured beyond life itself. Conversely, to be on the other side of Ojeifo’s convictions is to prepare for a formidable adversary; for he can be a nightmare to those with whom he chooses to disagree.

His intolerance for folly is well known; Sufuyan does not suffer fools gladly. His discipline is not confined to his professional life but extends to his diet, his attire, and even the company he keeps. As a reporter, journalist, editor, and thinker, he embodies the ideals of the profession: accuracy, integrity, and courage. His writing is marked by clarity of thought and sharpness of insight; his editing by meticulousness; his thinking by depth and originality.

Today, as Sufuyan Ojeifo marks his 59th birthday, I join countless others in saluting him, not only for the years he has lived but for the substance with which he has filled them.

May this new chapter bring him continued strength, radiant health, and a length of days worthy of the legacy he is building.

And may the power in that surname, Ojeifo, continue to inspire fearlessness in the pursuit of truth, loyalty in friendship, and excellence in all things. Happy birthday, O. J. Wonder. May your pen never run dry.

By Abiodun Adeniyi