I knew Clarkson Majomi 

BY 

Mike Diagbare

Few things have been written and said concerning Dr. Clarkson Majomi while he was alive and most recently since his demise. My tribute is not meant to refute or confirm stories told of him. I write with all sincerity of purpose about a friend I knew for many years.

I first met Clarkson Majomi as a young man in the late fifties in James Street Warri. Clarkson, I recall at the time he was hawking a newspaper called Champion making its debut in Warri.

We lost contact shortly after this, only to meet again in London in an underground train station in 1967. Clarkson again was holding another newspaper called the Africa Illustrated. He made me believe, this was his idea, and was promoting it. Clarkson was immaculately dressed and had the appearance of a man going places. We met several times until he decided to leave London for Lagos with the intention of establishing a publication in Lagos. But before Clarkson left London, he bought himself a Ford Zephr car - a big and fashionable car for the late sixties.

No sooner Clarkson arrived Lagos, he linked up with the Ibrus Organization. I visited his public relations office. The office was sumptuously furnished, and with a retinue of staff, personal aides, and secretaries, he was living in rented accommodation at 5, Ado Avenue Apapa whose rent, according to a magazine (Happy Home in The Punch Newspaper stable) was £3000 sterling. This was a story of success then.

In one of my trips to Lagos in the early seventies, I remember Clarkson picking me from the international airport with a flashy American car called the Javilin. I was told there were just two imported into Nigeria. The car was loaded with the latest musical gadgets and had the pictures of his present wife Julia and his first daughter pasted on the dashboard. Clarkson was already on his way to being called a superstar as he eventually became known.

I do not really know Clarkson’s age although he says he was born in 1938. It is likely Clarkson was a little older than that, based on my age and recollection of him at James Street, Warri in the late fifties. Clarkson attended the United College of Commerce (UCC) Warri, and was always joking that Prof. Aiboni of Ekpoma State University was his junior at school each time they met. I understand Clarkson went to a School of Journalism in Ghana before proceeding to the United Kingdom for further studies.

Like most Nigerians, Clarkson wanted recognition; and believed an honorary degree and chieftaincy titles will enhance his status as was the vogue. Some of us pointed out to him this was not necessary, as he was already well known and recognized, but he insisted. In late seventies, a few of us, his friends, Mr. Sam Amuka, Prof. Moyibi Amoda, Mr. Eddy Agbahor, the late Olu Aboderin and his wife, and one Barry Phillips, his solicitor, accompanied Clarkson to the United States for the conferment of two doctorate degrees. In the early nineties, he later was conferred with a chieftaincy title Obarisi of Urhoboland; a title he treasured to be called.

The alleged scandal regarding his association with Captain Adekunle Lawal, the former Lagos State Governor, who died prematurely came up several times either with friends calling him a cheat during a misunderstanding, or strangers pointing an accusing finger at his success.

I had the opportunity of asking him his own side of the story. Clarkson was always prepared to swear he did not cheat Captain Lawal. He admitted they were close friends and did a few businesses together. Clarkson stressed as a matter of fact, he was already a rich man by the time his dealings with Captain Lawal materialized. He already had the first pink Rolls-Royce in London, and was living in one of the best parts of London-Hyde Park Street. I cannot be a judge, but now that Clarkson is dead, only God Almighty knows the truth; as in the words of William Shakespeare "There is no art to tell the mind’s construction in the face."

Clarkson admitted he was duped a lot of money in the early 1990s by a group of conmen, but would not reveal the amounts involved. At the peak of his life, Clarkson established The Mail Newspapers, but most of his friends knew it might not succeed because of the Clarkson style. It was no surprise the paper survived only a short time. Many attempts to reverse its downward trend failed in spite of the enormous amounts spent in acquiring a state of the art newspaper press.

Clarkson never really trusted people; he had a sceptical mind, for he believed only he alone could take care of his business which became a handicap in his dealings. Clarkson Majomi loved his wife but like most of us, Nigerians, he found it difficult to be faithful to one woman especially with his great wealth, success, fine clothes and exotic cars. Most people I know in these situations are bound to fall into the temptations and trappings of an impoverished society where money and success open more doors than necessary.

At a period I call when we were kings, friends travelled with Dr. Majomi to many parts of the world, sometimes in company of the most gorgeous and sophisticated women, had a jolly good time and spent money. London was base. Clarkson finally bought a penthouse flat in Mayfair that cost an arm and a leg. He had two Rolls Royce cars and a Lexus for his wife. In the eighties, it was fun visiting boutiques like Cecil Gee, Gerald Austin and Campbell Palmer in New Bond Street, with him and I always found it funny to hear Clarkson telling the proprietors of these boutiques not to sell anything he had bought to other Nigerians. He might as well have bought the whole items. This was Clarkson’s way. He wanted to be exclusive and he wanted the best.

Clarkson was clever in the things of the world especially with regard to his businesses. He was a go-getter and he must have hit many pots of gold in his life time. He saw politics as a way of making money and not a means by itself. Clarkson dined and wined with many heads of state. Photographs do not lie. I saw them and in some occasions, heard conversations. His houses in Victoria Island, Mayfair in London, and Abuja speak for themselves. They are unique and classic. Any dignitaries could be hosted in any of these houses.

I cannot say Clarkson Majomi was a philanthropist in the likes of late M.K.O. Abiola, but he gave to people he considered needed help. The problem was as I always pointed out to him, to his displeasure, he did not give enough. Clarkson was restricted and calculated in his giving. Perhaps in his twilight years, he might have realized I was right.

In hindsight, events after his death, may now suggest that our assessment of his wealth might have been a little exaggerated. He might have been balancing his giving with what he wanted to achieve.

Clarkson was my friend. He had a bad temper like me, but we managed to still respect each other. He showed understanding when things that were wrong were pointed out to him. He did not have respect for some of the "home boys" because he always thought they wanted too much from him. Clarkson was wrong. Success is to be shared and enjoyed by your own people.

I must say Clarkson lived a full and complete life. He lived like an aristocrat. He was a man who had things that gave pleasure. You couldn’t surprise him with a present. It is a pity he couldn’t make seventy at least.

I regret I did not see Clarkson for about a year before his demise due to my own personality flaw, but we did in our past days together talk about life and God and being born again. I gave him some of the articles I had written on religion. I hope he reflected on them in his last hours.

Like a common friend, Chief Torch Taire said, Clarkson had more time than the thief who was crucified with Jesus. I hope again Clarkson grabbed the opportunity to know our Lord. I like Dr Clarkson Majomi - the Obarisi. He was my good friend and I greatly miss him. He was neither a saint nor was he a villain. He was just a man who believed in the good things of life, and lived life well. Adieu Clarkson.