December 16, (THEWILL) – The remains of the late Bayelsa publisher, chief Otonye Godman Evans Tubonah, the publisher of a local tabloid, Golden pen, has been laid to rest at Nembe Ogbolomabiri, Bayelsa state.
According to a biography of the late chief, who was popularly known as Golden pen, was born on October 28, 1952, at Igbobeleu polo, Nembe, to the family of late Evans Ladder Iyoyo of Ogulacha Omuaru (War canoe house) of Ogoloma in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers state.
He was the fifth of his father’s children and third from his mother, Suota, nee Awori. His parents died when he was yet an adult.
He attended County Council school, Nembe, for his primary education and a commercial school in Port Harcourt, through which he wrote the various stages of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) He also took courses in journalism.
The late chief Otonye Godman Evans Tubonah got married and had nine children (seven sons and two daughters). He is survived by seven children haven lost his first daughter and third son before his death.
He worked briefly with the defunct Nigeria Tobacco Company (NTC) in Port Harcourt as a Typist/Confidential Secretary before venturing into private business life. He was also a man who never liked idle moments. He always put in his best on whatever he was convinced to lay his hands to do and excelled in that field.
He started his private business with a lock up shop, which he opened and operated in mile one, Diobu, Port Harcourt. Not satisfied with the boredom of sitting right all day in grocery store, he changed his trade to photography, which made him very popular as Godman the photographer.
Upon the creation of Bayelsa state, he relocated to Yenagoa, he became the publisher/Editor-in-chief and CEO of the Golden pen, which he singlehandedly established and ran for more than two decades before his death.
In between his photographic enterprise and newspaper publication was the time he spent with the government. He was a correspondent for Radio Rivers, Port Harcourt and covered the old Brass Local Government Area of old Rivers state, Press Secretary to local government chairman, late Mr Paul Owei, in old Brass Local government area and secretary to delegate, late Mrs Itari Garuba, nee kombo, to the 1995 Constitutional conference.
He was also a writer and author of a book, Polygamy and the bible, as well as a lover of music and produced many musical albums, the 9th album “HOLY HOLY” being his most preferred. He was a visionary leader, vision bearer and founder of many organisations, notably among them are The World Prosperity Organisation and Nembe National Congress, which he led as president.
Until his death on Sunday, November 29, 2020, he was the chairman of Bayelsa state Independent Publishers Association (BIPA), a body which he was among the founding members and had held various executive positions since it was founded.
His funeral was attended by many colleagues including the current chairman of BIPA, Dr Francis Dufgha, the publisher of Niger Herald, Chief Bomolaghoun Ereku, publisher of Atlantic Express, Mr Alfred Egbegi, publisher of Izonink, Mr Ebi Ozegbe, Publisher of The Light Newspapers, Blessing Ozegbe, publisher of the Canon Newspapers and Chief Executive officer of Bayelsa Media Network Award, Francis Ukari, publisher of Vigilant Watchman newspaper, Elder Tamadu Eze, publisher of National Concept, Eric Eweke, publisher of Despatch and Professor Conrad Ekiyor Welson, Lecturer at Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state.
Others journalists present were chief Aherhoke Amos Okioma of Daily Times, Pastor Tayese Mike of Daily Asset, John Odeh of AIT, James Akam of Daily Post, Idiba Agadaga, Managing Editor of Atlantic Express, among others.
