A media Consultant, Taiwo Obe, wrote
yesterday on the late Obe, his uncle, who was born on December 28, 1932.
“Just as the Daily Times, where he
was for several decades chief photographer, was the generic name for newspapers,
he was also for a long time the generic name for photography in Nigeria. If you
wasted time in taking a photograph, you were automatically written off as “not
Peter Obe.” On the other hand, if you exhibited some measure of mastery, you
earned the name, “Peter Obe.”
He was a legend. Indeed, in the
Daily Times, he was not mentioned by name; rather, he was “Ace”, indicating his
high quality, excellence. His photographs were always stamped “Exclusives.”
And, truly, they were: in a different class.
“This afternoon (yesterday), Peter
Oyeyemi Obe, better known as Peter Obe, died at his residence situated on 31
Alhaji Masha/Moronu Street, Surulere, Lagos. His first son, Femi, made the
announcement. A visual impairment which he had a couple of years ago, cut short
his freelance photography work for the Agence France Presse (AFP). His coverage
of the Nigerian civil war for the Daily Times resulted in a one-of-its-kind
book, “Civil War Pictures From Nigeria: A Decade of Crisis in Pictures.”
Mr Lade Bonuola (aka Ladbone), an
executive consultant at The Guardian, in a condolence message, wrote: “As chief
cameraman of the Daily Times and I as the chief sub-editor, we worked very
closely together. He never failed in supplying me terrific action photographs
for the front page. Once I shouted ‘Exclusives’, I trusted he was on the way to
the newsroom to supply page 1 photograph.”
For veteran sports journalist Fabio
Olanikpekun, the late icon of photo Journalism was a true professional who
discharged his duties with a sense of professionalism.
“Oh my God! Peter Obey has passed
on? He asked almost close to tears.
Continuing, he said: “That is a
monumental departure in the history of Nigeria Photo Journalism. I was a kid
when Peter Obey occupied the space in Nigeria Photo Journalism. As a Daily
Express photographer he was the essential photo Journalist of his era.
“If he did not cover any event then
that event was not going to be an historic event. And those of us who grew up
in Lagos in the 40′s remembered that any event he covered was historic with his
ever present cap. He was easily distinguishable and there’s nobody in Lagos
that did not recognise him as the essential press photographer of his days.
“As a naturalist, he was famours and
popular by his love for bush meat, grass cutter. As I speak to you, I feel
saddened that a great professional in the act of press photography departed.
But we should thank God that he made a mark for others to emulate.”
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Society
RIP Boss...WhiteStrip Photography.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace Peter Obe. You left a great legacy in photography. If one bends down to take a pic you hear people around exclaim Peter Obe. That was mastery and accolades given to this great Photo veteran. I wish you keep on clicking the camera where you are. Adieu.
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