A few years ago, First Republic Information Minister, Chief Theophilus Owolabi Sobowale Benson, aka TOS Benson, cracked a rather expensive joke about death.
Without disclosing his identity, he called the Editor of THISDAY giving the information that TOS Benson was dead.
He then told the Editor to gather his men together and work on the story.
After the Editor was done with his background and all that, he called the same person back.
But the person at the other end of the phone thundered thus: “I gave you people an article and you refused to publish; now you want me to confirm that TOS is dead. I’m TOS Benson and I’m dead.”
Immediately he said that, he hung the telephone.
Yesterday, TOS Benson finally died around 7 pm in his residence in Falomo, Lagos.
Had he lived further, he would have been 91 on July 23.
Benson had marked his 90th birthday last year at Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos with pomp and ceremony.
Around 10.40 pm last night at his residence, one of his sons, Soji, told THISDAY that his father died peacefully around 7 pm and that he chatted with them two hours before his death.
He said it was just on Tuesday that he complained of stomach ache and that it was not a serious matter.
Bimbo, a daughter of the late politician and wife of former commissioner for Budget and Planning in Lagos State, Mr. Yemi Cardozo, also corroborated her brother’s account, saying the late Benson did not betray any sign of imminent death.
She said she was yet to believe that her dad had passed on.
They described their father as a peaceful man whom the nation would miss a great deal and that his thinking faculty was still intact until his death.
His wife, Oprah, the Iya Oge of Lagos, could not be reached to comment on her husband’s death as she was said to have been weighed down by the development.
Among early sympathizers at the Falomo residence of the deceased were former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ex-governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and the deceased son-in-law, Cardozo
While THISDAY was there, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, called Tinubu to confirm the death of Benson.
Tinubu whom THISDAY met at the residence of the deceased described Benson “as a great statesman, a great national leader, one of our national heroes, a democrat, a nation- builder and a leader of immense character. Without him, without his courage, and his leadership, some of us would not have been in politics now.
“He has contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s democracy. He was among the first set of democrats and people will emulate their courage and their character,” he said.
Osoba told THISDAY that the late politician was a strong pillar of support for him politically.
“He was always supportive of my political ambition. Only yesterday (Tuesday) at the burial of Ronke Ademola at the Cathedral Church, Lagos, Opral Benson (Benson’s wife) was telling me that Papa was expecting me that I should come and see him. Now, he is gone. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” Osoba said.
On the occasion of Benson 90th birthday last year, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and other illustrious Nigerians paid glowing tributes to Benson.
Present at the ceremony held at Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos were Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Prof. Jadesola Akande, Dr. Gbolahan Osinowo (who represented President Musa Yar'Adua), Chief Mathew Mbu, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, Hon Abike Dabiri, Hon Jumoke Okoya and Chief Olufemi Majekodunmi. Fashola, in his address, said Benson was undisputedly one of the architects and builders of modern Lagos.
``He was the acting Chairman of the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) that embarked on the development of new residential and industrial estates in Lagos between 1951 and 1959.''
Fashola added that Benson also served as a member of the Lagos Town Council between 1955 and 1958 as well as served as a delegate to the Nigerian Constitutional Conferences in London in 1953, 1957 and 1958.
“At the dignified age of 90,Otunba TOS Benson remains committed to the development of Lagos State which proves the truism that it is loss of interest, not age, that make you age,'' he said.
The late TOS Benson was an elected member of the House of Representatives between 1951 and 1959 where he became Chief Whip.
He rounded off his impressive public service records as the Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
Benson was also an activist.
Many said the history of socio-political activism in Lagos and Nigeria in general would not be fully told without talking about the contributions of Benson.
The deceased also belonged to the eminent group of five who championed the cause and eventual creation of Lagos State in 1967.
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