chapter 18
As a chorister, I always put my phone on vibration during Sunday service to know who is calling so as to call back after service. But on this Sunday in late November 2018, I could not wait till the end of the service before I slipped out of the choir stall to call back and told my caller that I missed his call. He asked me where I was and I said church. He queried further, "Which church?"
I replied, "Anglican Church of Transfiguration COT Federal Housing". Then he raised his voice and said,
"They are looking for you at the Cathedral at Okesa or don't you know you're the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor".
I hurriedly went to unrobe, sent a text message to my wife, also a church worker, an usher in our church and I drove as fast as it's safe to the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel. It was not hard for me to locate the good Samaritan who called me and he introduced me to Mr Lanre Ogunjobi, the Special Adviser Political to Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi.
I did not have any personal schedule again from that moment because after the thanksgiving at the cathedral, we moved to Eagle Hall on Ikere road for the reception. The following Monday, I reported to the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Governor's Office, Engr Sunday Komolafe who took me to my office and introduced me to the staff in the Press Corps, most of whom I'm familiar with. I met Otunba Egbeyemi later that week when he was conducted round the departments under his office.
My colleagues at the Electronic Correspondents chapel were the first group of visitors to visit me at my new office and other friends and family members also came. Before long, the Deputy Governor summoned me and I met Otunba Egbeyemi in the office of the PS. After the man who came to call me had left the office and shut the door behind him, leaving the three of us behind the closed door, the Deputy Governor turned to me and asked, "How did you become my SA Media?" I was flabbergasted and didn't know what to say for what seemed an eternity. When I finally found my voice, I narrated how somebody called me and how I had been welcomed and all that. Otunba Egbeyemi had the number of the person who called me and he put a call across to him and he told the Deputy Governor how his SA Political approached him for my number and he obliged him. Then, Egbeyemi turned to Engr Komolafe and said, "Look at what Lanre has caused again". He later turned to me and said he had promised a print journalist who shares the same saw name with me, the position of SA Media.
I went downstairs and packed my bag and baggage and asked my wife who came to know my new office that fateful day to let's go home. When I narrated to her on our way in the car, what transpired when the Deputy Governor summoned me, she said my mood when I came back told her something amiss had happened.
My contract appointment had not been renewed by the TVC management in the weeks leading to my aborted appointment with the Ekiti State government and I decided to let Governor Fayemi know of my predicament. I sent him a WhatsApp message and the Governor gave me an appointment. I went in the morning of the appointment but when the form I filled got to his table, he asked me to come back at 5pm that same day. I was ushered into Governor Fayemi's office in the White Governor's Office and the security guy went back and shut the door. We had a lively discussion because I was alone with him. As soon as I sat down in the seat he indicated, the Governor asked, "Mr Ogunmola, I hope you're enjoying TVC?" I replied that I was tired of reporting because I thought by now, I should be speaking for the Governor. Fayemi laughed and narrated to me how he signed my supposed appointment but that his deputy came back to say that he had promised somebody else the position of SA Media and he obliged him since he was the person the appointee would serve. "Your Excellency, please I need your assistance". I pleaded and he promised that whenever there's an opening, he would remember me.
About four months after my meeting with Governor Fayemi, I received a call that directed me to go to Ayoba FM. I assumed work there as Head of News on April 1, 2020, the very day, total lockdown began in Ekiti State on account of the COVID 19 pandemic.
End Part 1.