Can you believe this- we, I mean we all, the SQUIB FAMILY, we are ten years old. Ten solid years. A decade. One tenth of a century. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Incredible, really. Oh migosh…ten whole years!
The Squib is a well known brand magazine in the legal profession; it is so big that it has eclipsed the human identity of its founder, whose names ring a bell in legal circles, only in association with that of his creation, The Squib.
It may appear frivolous, the point just about to be made, that the Squib is probably the only magazine in Africa with multiple pet-names or and nicknames, but on sober reflection, one realizes that the fact is a strong indication of its strength and popularity.
Officially, ‘the Squib’ is the name of the magazine, but admirers also affectionately call it any of these nomenclatures: ‘Scoop,’ ‘Sukubu,’ ‘Skub,’ ‘Squibedo,’ ‘Skaib,’ and even ‘Shaibu!’
However ten years ago on March 22, 2001 when the Squib first hit the stands, the story was different. The Publisher and Editor of the Squib, barely five years old at the bar then, was just any other lawyer, even though his street circulated one-page ‘The Learned Squib Articles’ was beginning to make waves with his fierce, caustic and belligerently agitational but arresting writing style; later carried over to the Squib Magazine, to date.
The Squib was even worse off; it was a completely unknown quantity and quality. Many predicted its failure and death for various “tangible” reasons including the following:
1. The Squib is too confrontational and destabilizing in its editorial approach to last, since the authorities are bound to react negatively to that provocative stance.
2. The Publisher is a poor, young struggling lawyer and as such cannot sustain a capital intensive project like magazine publication.
3. The Publisher is untrained in journalism to do any good job and the Squib is too rough and unattractive at any rate, to be accepted in the market.
4. Generally, newspapers and magazines have high mortality rates in Nigeria
Interestingly, the predictions of doom have fallen flat, while The Squib, a little acorn of yore has grown and is still growing to a mighty oak.
Oh yes, there have been great hurdles on our way and the road has been rough. Financially we have been stretched and are still being stretched. Physically, our lives have been under open threat and on the line at least three times. Our professional career as a legal practitioner was under siege for many years (2001 – 2010) as the Lagos State Judiciary and the NBA maintained action against us before the Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers.
Even now despite the withdrawal of the complaint against us by the Lagos State Judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association (under former President, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN), the formal and final discontinuance by the Disciplinary Committee is yet to be done.
We had thought to roll out the drums in celebration of our tenth anniversary – deservedly so; for we have mostly walked in the ‘shadows of the valley of death’ these past years and survived and even done more than survived, thrived.
However on second thoughts, we realized that we still have a long way to go in the achievement of our mission:-
The Squib is born to correct and change the many unhealthy traditions and progressive developments in the legal profession and the judiciary. This critical medium shall be sharp, nay trenchant in its criticism but shall never be unfair or malicious. Naturally the Squib shall tread on toes (especially of serpents). ’Tis to be expected. The truth is the hardest hitting pugilist. Pray for the Squib.
Our immediate constituency, the Lagos State Judiciary may no longer be a malodorous cesspit of sickening corruption and inefficiency but it is still far, very far from El-Dorado. You all know what I mean.
The legal profession still also has bad eggs and rotten apples, even in the upper echelons.
Thus there is still a lot of work to do and little or no time or even basis to celebrate.
The only celebration we are allowing ourselves is to thank God for all his mercies, protection, deliverance and provisions for us as an organization, since March 22 2001.
BUT FOR GOD, WE SURELY WOULD HAVE GONE UNDER AND FORGOTTEN.
THANK YOU BABA.
He gave us those wonderful workers, like Bola Oluboyo, Funmilayo Mendes, Shadia Rasaq, Segun Adaraloso and Temitope Israel, whose dedication to duty was well above average and in many cases uncommon.
He gave us those fantastic open supporters like “Daddy 3,” The Progressive Bar Forum, The NBA Ikeja Branch and those dear comrades, the Aluta Army and family of the Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU) who helped us to stare down the Great Foe in the fierce, very physical confrontation of November 2001.
He gave us those equally fantastic secret supporters who regularly leaked and frustrated deadly plans and strategies of the Great Foes 1 & 2 against us. It is a pity we cannot mention names yet.
He gave us the GECKOES, without whose contributions, the Squib won’t be so much dreaded.
He gave us good and unbelievably supportive home front; our international editor, OMO FRANCA, that quietly strong girl who “sabi grammar even pass im wahala husband” and who allowed us the latitude and the peace of mind to do our dangerous aluta, without complaining too much.
And God is still giving us many more things that we just marvel at. For example he has given us, before our very eyes in our presence, a Pharaoh that knows and sincerely appreciates our Joseph.
I mention a name here Mr. or (is it Mrs.) Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande, incumbent Chief Judge of Lagos State
In rounding off this piece, it is our prayer that we all will grow from strength to strength. To our dear readers – esteemed Squibbers, please keep praying for us. We need your constant prayers. Our charge to you ten years ago remains unchanged: “Well, until when next the parliament opens, do not take it easy. Give life your best shots. Do not go to your grave with your songs unsung and your heads bowed. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your Squib. You know what?
“The Heavens Will Not Fall!”
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