Mr. Segun Ayobolu turned 60 Wednesday January 17, 2023. He served as Chief Press Secretary to President Tinubu and later as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy when the President was Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. Ayobolu was retained by Babatunde Fashola, SAN, who succeeded Tinubu as Governor until Ayobolu’s voluntary disengagement in the twilight of Fashola’s first term in office. The workaholic Ayobolu, a foremost journalist, erudite scholar, painstaking professional and selfless media practitioner was at different times Political Editor of Daily Times; Editor, Sunday Times and Member of the elite Editorial Board of the organisation.
It is testimony to Ayobolu’s sterling capacity and competencies that he was retained by successive leaderships of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. He straddled the administrations of Chief Olusegun Osoba; Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi; Chief Tola Adeniyi; Mr Tunji Oseni, Chief Innocent Oparadike, among others, ever adding value to the entire gamut of the profession. He was inspired by cerebral and impactful Editors like Mallam Farouk Mohammed; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Dr Femi Sonaike (of blessed memory); Mr Dapo Aderinola, among others, in the Daily Times conglomerate. He was a reporter with redoubtable aptitude for writing, he was equally an analyst who excelled in column sustenance.
President Tinubu commends Ayobolu for his unflinching service to the nation and dedication to progressive ideals over the years. His words: “I congratulate Segun Ayobolu on his 60th birthday. Segun has remained one of my steadfast associates and loyalists for many years. He served me with complete dedication and loyalty as my Chief Press Secretary when I was Governor of Lagos State. He has not failed to offer his service and intellect to us in many other areas since we left office. He remains a committed member of our progressive family,” the President says.
In the course of the Third Republic which was variously tinkered by former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Ayobolu was in 1992, tapped from the *Daily Times* by the Senate President of that era, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, as his Chief Press Secretary. He was assisted by Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who would subsequently become Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, under the current Fourth Republic. Ayu took Ayobolu with him when the Third Republic was terminated by General Sani Abacha in November 1993, and appointed Ayu and other progressives into his administration. He is more currently a Senior Member of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers and Editor-at-large.
