The Death Of A Colossus, A Pillar – Anietie Ben Akpan

By Lawrence Mpama

My heart bleeds. Losing Roro Chief (Anietie) is like losing a pillar in my life and in the journalism profession.
Our meeting was divinely orchestrated 29 years ago, and from that moment, there was no looking back. My main man, Roro Chief. I can hardly think straight right now. Where do I even begin?

When I told him 29 years ago that I had found someone I wanted to settle down with, he immediately mobilized a few of our veteran colleagues, including the late KJ, Hachet (Etubom Charles Eniang), and others, to meet with my brother-in-law, Francis, who was living on Mayne Avenue at the time. Despite the obvious challenges I was facing, he encouraged me to go ahead with the engagement. That was who Anietie was – always pushing others forward, always believing in people.

One memory that will never leave me happened just recently when we were both battling health challenges. He was at UCTH, while I was at Asi Ukpo carrying out medical investigation, he felt very concerned, he encouraged me to be strong and not to despair. Even in his own frail condition, he refused to dwell on himself. Instead, he kept encouraging me to stay strong for my family, reminding me that they needed me and that I must not give up. That was Roro Chief. Even in pain, he found strength to strengthen others. In 2024, during the Rite of Passage of my dear mother, he found time to come and commiserate with me not minding the fact that he just came out of two surgeries. He didn’t come alone, as usual he led a powerful delegation of senior colleagues, Emma Akpong- retired  GM- Nigeria Chronicle, and former Permanent Secretary ministry of information, Publisher of Glimmer Newspaper, Etubom Charles Eniang, and the Secretary of NUJ, Cross River State Chapter, Mike Abang.

Today, I mourn a colossus of the journalism profession. My colleague, my brother, my friend, my motivator – Anietie Ben Akpan has gone to rest.
Anietie gave 32 years of his life to journalism. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Bureau Chief at The Guardian Newspaper, where his pen, his discipline, and his integrity set a standard for many of us. After retirement, he did what great journalists do – he continued to build. Through Pillar Today, he created a platform to keep speaking the truth, ventilating important issues, and holding the line for our profession.
To me, Anietie was more than a respected journalist or a byliner.
He was my brother.
He was always there for me – with advice when I was confused and low in spirit, with correction when I was wrong, and with encouragement when I wanted to quit. He made time for his brother. He celebrated my victories as though they were his own.
He constantly reminded me that journalism is a calling, not just a job.
He taught me how to pursue a story with courage, how to write with compassion, and how to live with honour. His legacy is not only in the newspapers he helped shape, but also in every reporter he mentored, every story he told, and every life he touched.
Little wonder that at the 2011 Mrs. Beatrice Ita Giwa Best Journalism Awards in the state, he came first, while I followed closely behind in second place. Standing behind him then was an honour. Today, remembering the event is an even greater honour.
Pillar Today bears his imprint, and truly, he was a pillar – to his family, to the Guardian family, to the team at Pillar Today, and to all of us in the journalism profession. We have lost a gem.
Rest well, my brother and friend, Anietie Ben Akpan.
I will keep your legacy standing. I will keep telling the stories.
Until we meet again.
My heart is heavy. I am deeply pained. Very sad.
Yet, with gratitude and total submission to God Almighty, our Creator, I say goodnight.
As he would always say in my dialect – Epoe!!