The ‘Bush’ Man turns ‘Big’ Man

Mikky Attah, a broadcast journalist, celebrates the lifetime achievements of an iconic broadcaster, Michael Bush

The “everlasting 30 year old” Akparawa Michael Bush shocked a great number of people when he announced recently that he had attained the Golden Age. Indeed, one could take as many extra glances as one would want to, but would still not see a single spot, not a wrinkle, no pot belly- nothing on him.

Michael Bush is the archetypical E.Y.Y.(Every Year Young looking fellow).
Akparawa Bush is the Founder/CEO of Bush House Nigeria, which started humbly as a one-man production squad operating at a single station in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. It commenced at a time when broadcasting was just beginning to boom across Nigeria as well as in the rest of Africa- but was barely crawling in the Akwa- Cross region of Southern Nigeria.

I vividly remember once when I went for an extensive stay in Akwa Ibom from Lagos in 2006, to try and persuade the local money-bags to begin to invest in the broadcasting sector. I visited the veteran broadcaster Jones Usen and we teamed up to meet with a number of Akwa Ibomites to convince them to start up private radio stations ( nobody saw the vision with us, and Jones Usen was invited back to Lagos to start TVC. It was not until 2013 that Planet FM, the first private radio station entered the airwaves).
Back then, there was only the state- owned broadcasting corporation in existence; in fact, even the state- owned television was comatose, and off- air.

Listening to the radio as at then was, to say the least, distressing. Essentially, there was this doleful tune that was always rolled out, predictably followed by: “The Death Has Been Announced Of……” And on and on, from one deceased person to another at short, regular intervals!
Ironically, in other parts of Nigeria the radio was, and is a constant companion, even before the advent of smartphones.
But over in Akwa Ibom, it was an active source of depression.

It was against this background that there came Michael Bush; brought up in Cameroun, fresh from school and who delved straight in to the broadcasting world, without any existing template.
He utilised the only broadcast station available and created his own groove. He started off with the soar-away programme Makosa Agogo which became an instant hit with listeners (it is now rested).

He went on to establish The Bush House and it too became a red hot success, both on radio and television.
His programme was unique. It was fresh, it was modern. Most of all, it was balanced. It adhered to all the injunctions of broadcasting, and did not pander to any interests. It became an instant hit, and Michael Bush became the most sought after Master of Ceremonies across the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State. No event worth its salt went on without Michael Bush as compere.

His soar-away success however, did not come without a hard price. Michael Bush paid dearly for all his daring.

A broadcast journalist who strives to be professional in all his doings will very likely, at some point, anger the powers that be. Michael Bush was to be no exception. His young family was attacked, his wife spirited away! After they were reunited, the family relocated to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital where Michael Bush was forced to start life all over again. Literally; from scratch.

But just like the case of the Biblical Joseph, what was meant for Mr Bush’s harm turned out to work for his ultimate good.

In his 10 years stay in Abuja, Michael Bush the “local champion” transformed his programme to a brand name. The Bush House Nigeria became a national brand. For an unbroken decade his radio programme in Abuja captured national attention; so much so that he himself applied for a radio licence, to begin operations himself ( it has still not been granted him!). He also began writing in The Sun, a national daily, and his weekly column , ‘Talking Nonsense’ is a Monday delight, till date.

He relocated back to Uyo a few years back, where he is on all major radio stations and on TV, he is streamed live on all social media platforms and now has a popular game show running called ’20 Questions’.
His achievements have caught the attention of the Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel who has appointed Akparawa Michael Bush the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media.

Today, just like a dream, he has clocked 28 years on air. His office, Bush House Nigeria has been running for 18 years.
And he is waxing stronger both in impact, and in outreach.

So there you have him. Iconic Broadcast Journalist. Master of Ceremonies Extraordinaire. Businessman. The Big Boss. Husband and father. Role model and Mentor. A Pioneer. A Philanthropist.
A man of humility, simplicity, yet cerebral and financially very, very comfortable.
This is the essential Michael Bush.

QUOTE

Michael Bush; brought up in Cameroun, fresh from school and who delved straight in to the broadcasting world, without any existing template. He utilised the only broadcast station available and created his own groove. He started off with the soar-away programme Makosa Agogo which became an instant hit with listeners (it is now rested). He went on to establish The Bush House and it too became a red hot success, both on radio and television

*Attah is an Uyo-based radio presenter