Persona Non Grata, a book written by Ismail Omipidan, deputy editor and head of politics desk of The Sun Newspapers, will be formally presented on Saturday, January 18, at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Continental Hotel.
According to the Planning Committee of the book launch, the event will be chaired by prominent legal luminary, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, as special guest of honour and chief host, respectively. The book’s reviewer is Saturday Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju.
A statement by the chairperson of the committee, Mobola Bada, said the book is a compendium of Omipidan’s adventures in journalism and his experience at the corridors of power at the Senate and Osun State Government House.
“The book chronicles his contributions to the political developments of Nigeria and his reportage and management of the personalities and activities of the nation’s heavy weights at critical moments, including the birth and killing of the Single Term under former President Goodluck Jonathan, the missed opportunity of having a brand new Constitution, the eighth Senate leadership experience, reputation management and milestones of Governor Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola (2018-2022), the BVAS debate, the contest for power in Borno State between 1999 and 2011 and other historic moments.
“The author also takes the reader through his experiences in the trenches of journalism in pursuit of the truth and the turbulent tides of his personal life that shaped his perception and helped him to waddle through politics reporting and editing without compromising his integrity and the ethics of his profession.
“’Persona Non Grata’ is a compelling resource material for budding and up-and-coming journalists and mass communication students, and an invaluable reference material for experienced professionals and communication scholars.
“The book is the author’s modest contribution to enriching the nation’s political discourse and setting an agenda for the political development of Nigeria,” the statement said.
Omipidan, former media aide to the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, also served as a Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the former Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.