I REFER to some eminent Nigerians. They were born in 1933. If they had lived to see 2013, the year of their 80th birthday, even if they died before their dates of birth, the epitaphs on their tombs would have approximated their age (1933 to 2013) to 80 years. But fate took them away in 2012. May their great souls rest in peace.

Because they belonged to the rich and elite class, a lot of eulogy, more than   anything I can say about them, had been said and published. What more can one say about Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Saraki; the kingmaker of Kwara politics and founder of the Northern Union. Until his death, he was one of the movers and shakers of Nigerian politics, and to some degree, the Nigerian economy.

Or Dr. Lateef Adegbite, the energetic Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. We met in 1957 at Ibadan when he was an employee of the Yoruba Historical Research Scheme headed by his brother, Prof. Saburi Biobaku. Lateef Adegbite was as gentle as his voice. Throughout his life, he strove for religious harmony in Nigeria.

And Chief Hope Harriman, he would have been 80 on January 3. I first met him around 1962 at the Paradise Club Ibadan, where Eddie Okonta was the resident band. I imagined that Hope had just returned from studies abroad, judging by his appearance that day in an attractive, deep blue college blazer over a light blue pair of trousers. He was quite good looking and urbane. He probably came from Lagos as I learnt later that he was one of the young professionals at the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB), the forerunner of the present Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC). Hope waxed prominently in Nigerian elite circles and was a chief in the courts of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife.

Ikemba Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the ex-Biafran War Lord was another 1933 boy. His 80th birthday would have been an event of national celebration if he were alive. In the last 10 years of his life, the Ikemba was a very active member of the Ethnic Nationalities Forum, of which Lawyer Asemota (SAN) was the Coordinator. Nationalists who desire a Nigerian Federation in which the rights of existence and sense of belonging of all ethnic groups in Nigeria are recognised and respected, met regularly at Asemota’s Gbagada, Lagos office. Ojukwu hardly missed any of the monthly meetings though he would come all the way from Enugu.

Not less prominent or less an achiever, though little mentioned at his death, was an important Lagosian, one whose forte was the media at home and abroad. I speak of Lateef Mobolaji Atanda Olayinka, unquestionably Nigeria’s foremost press photographer, March 4, 1933 to November 6, 2012. In his crowded active life, Lateef, as his social and business friends all over the world fondly called him, was always on the move from one adventure to another. I write this piece because I shared with Lateef 55 of his 79 years on earth, and was part of some of his risky and daring adventures.

We met in 1957 when he came to Ibadan to cover Western Nigeria’s self government celebration for the Daily Times, then the country’s leading newspaper.

In 1965, we ran into an unexpected trouble, unexpected because it was at WNTV (now NTA Ibadan) where we were both pioneer staff in 1959. We had gone to Ibadan from Lagos to cover the court case involving Chief M.S. Adegbenro and his team who had claimed victory in the October 11, 1965 Western Nigeria general elections. Chief S.L. Akintola had been declared winner and had been sworn in as Premier under very tense political environment. As the case was adjourned, we decided to visit our friends in the TV Station before returning to Lagos. Suddenly, while we were in the canteen we heard the shouts of ‘bomb’, ‘bomb’ and the staff were rushing out of the studios and offices. Several seconds later, the bomb was yet to explode, and it occurred to us that Lateef should go in and take pictures of empty studios, control rooms, offices etc, before the explosion could occur. He did, and returned to the canteen. Suddenly, police swooped on the two of us, beat us mercilessly and searched our car where they found a Letter Telegram marked LT Coyte. Mr. Cotye was the Desk Editor of ITV, London. But they interpreted LT Coyte to mean Lieutenant Coyte, who they concluded was our foreign military contact. We were accused of being responsible for planting bombs to destabilise the Akintola Government. After three days at the police station we were taken to the customary court and charged with attempted sabotage. Hearing on the case was adjourned for three weeks and we were kept in the same Agodi Prison with the accused politicians, Chief Adegbenro and others. It was my first and only experience in prison custody, but the politicians and other political prisoners made it an interesting and unforgettable stay for us.

In his 70’s, Olayinka, who was of the Awori tribe of Lagos and a member of the ruling family in Agboyi was nominated to take the Stool of Oba Onikoro of Oruba Agboyi in Kosofe Local Government area. Opposition to his nomination dragged on for several years and he was never formally installed until his death last November.

There are some other 1933 products still alive and going strong. Among them is Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, a lawyer and President of the Ansaru-ud Dean Society of Nigeria. He will be 80 next month. Also alive and kicking is Alhaji Gafar Kayode Animashaun, another lawyer and President of the Ahmadiyyah Movement in Islam. Both are Lagosians. With the exception of the Ikemba of Nnewi who was born on November, I am the youngest of the 1933 kids mentioned in this article, having been born in August of that year. I thank the Almighty God for keeping me alive and for blessing me with a good family, a good wife and very loving children and grand children who will celebrate with me if I live up to August 29, 2013.

Akinbiyi, a veteran journalist lives in Lagos.