Dotun: A Great Storyteller Remembered

Today is Tuesday, exactly one week since death, like a thief in the night, took my friend, Dotun Samson Oladipo.

One week later, I feel strong enough today to type these words. I have been emotionally drained by this painful loss.

I was focused on the death of the famous American country music star, Dolly Parton, who passed away at 84 on Tuesday, August 25. I had no idea that a more painful tragedy was waiting for me just around the corner.

A few minutes after I informed NPO Reports’ Newsroom about Dolly Parton’s death and hung up, my son alerted me to another incoming call.

“Daddy, you have a call.” I asked, “Who is it?”

“MJ,” he replied, and I reached for the phone to answer Mojeed Jamiu, the CEO of Upshot Media, publishers of Upshot Reports.

“Semiu, Wahala ti wa o (there is a problem!),” were the shocking words I heard from the other end.

I asked for clarification.

“I heard Dotun is dead!”

For some minutes, there was a heavy silence on both ends of the call. It felt like time had stopped. My mind was spinning. I struggled to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. Then, the phone seemed to weigh a ton and slipped from my hands.

When I came back to reality, I rushed out of the room and called my wife who was still downstairs.

“Dotun is dead!”

Startled by the terrible news, she ran upstairs, screaming in the quiet of the night. She held up her phone to show me Dotun’s last news broadcast.

“That cannot be true! Who told you this? Look, this is his broadcast that came to my phone at 2:50 p.m. today,” she said, collapsing into a chair.

A call to our friend, Gabriel Akinadewo, publisher of Freedom Online, confirmed our fears. Dotun had passed away suddenly a few hours earlier, while driving to see his doctor.

I have tried to understand what went wrong. I have thought about his day from the office to the bank and wondered when he decided to go straight to the hospital. But I have stopped asking questions. We may never find answers.

Yes, sudden deaths happen. But Dotun’s death came with a rudeness that no one can explain.

Dotun woke up as normal on Tuesday, August 26, as Ayaba (his wife) told me when I arrived at their home on Wednesday morning. They went to the gym, as usual, and returned home. They then parted ways for the day, with Dotun working in his office until about 4 p.m., when he told his staff he was stepping out but would return soon. He never came back. That was his final exit from the office.

Why does his death weigh heavily on the Nigerian media industry? It is not just because Dotun’s journalism career took him through Newswatch, The PUNCH, The Sun, The Nigerian Tribune, and The Compass, before he founded The Eagle Online. The truth is, he made lasting impacts everywhere he worked.

I met Dotun at The PUNCH in 2002. My memories will confirm what many have shared about this remarkable person. Forget official statements from governments and high-ranking officials. Read the heartfelt tributes from close colleagues, school friends, church members, and neighbors. I doubt I could find anyone with negative stories about Dotun.

As I read all the stories shared about Dotun this past week, I remember the energy he brought as a storyteller.

My friend told stories about sports, politics, crime, love, and most importantly, humanity.

Ironically, Ayaba shared with me on Wednesday that Dotun had recently been discussing his ‘marriage’ to media storytelling with his family. He had been dreaming about retirement when he could finally take breaks and plan holidays with his family. Those plans vanished with him that dark Tuesday.

What can I say about my personal experience with Dotun?

In February 2006, I was in a serious car accident in Osun State while returning from an official assignment as Dotun’s deputy on the Politics Desk at The PUNCH.

I spent the night at a police station in Ede. It was a shock to see Dotun show up at the police station around 9 a.m. after leaving Lagos early to sort out issues related to the accident. His dedication to others was legendary.

Many others have similar stories of his selfless actions, always willing to help.

Those who say Dotun looked after his friends are right. Among his colleagues, he was the go-to person who solved many problems for others.

Dotun launched The Eagle Online in 2011, just a year after I started with Nigeria Politics Online, which became NPO Reports. He worked hard to promote online journalism, encouraging us all to ensure that digital publications were taken seriously, just like traditional newspapers.

As the leader of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, he helped set the foundation and rules that ensured respect for journalistic ethics.

He didn’t keep opportunities to himself. Many in the industry owe their success to his generous spirit.

Now that Dotun is gone, what will happen to The Eagle Online? That was his passion, his idea, his everything. We must make sure that legacy continues. Everyone who knew how much he invested in that platform has a duty to keep it alive.