Barrister Oby Egbe a.k.a Pink Republic recently opened up to City People’s Titilope Oshunlalu about her versatile sides especially her ever-growing blog, Pink Republic.
Kindly tell us a bit about yourself
I am Barrister Oby Egbe. Pink Republic, I’m a very humble person. I have a very serious face and people misinterpret my facial expression, they always believe I may not be friendly, so when I smile, it’s like ‘Oh, you smile’.
You were in the Media, now a Musician, Fashion icon, Blogger and a professional lawyer.
I believe you don’t have to limit yourself to one area. For instance, you don’t just report news, you need to break news. Someone sent me a message that said, you report news the way it is, I said, yes, it is news and it has to be reported the way the Agency wrote it. I don’t believe in sub journalism
How has Media helped your career?
Yes, it has. I am a very shy person. When I was in music, I was shy but, as soon as I joined the media, I became free, bold, outspoken. I also realised everyone is not your friend and I learnt to be my own person. What I have are Acquaintances, because I am a busy person.
Can you tell us more about yourself?
Pink Republic is a humble person, a blogger who always puts her trust in God.
Tell us about your blog?
I have worked with some Softsell Magazines as a Fashion Editor and I saw that people concentrate on gossips, so I decided to have my own Media and I didn’t want to use the print, hence I started a blog. My blog can be a marathon, I like fashion news and I base my blog on breaking stories.
Challenges?
When I was starting my blog, I didn’t intend to compete with anyone, I am promoting Nigeria. If you check Hollywood, you will see that they use their media outlet well. We also are promoting Nigerian tourism in between reporting the news.
How far have you gone?
I did not know I had gone this far. I get people thanking me for breaking top news, e.g I saw my post on a colleague’s blog and I thanked him for promoting me.
You have won quite a few awards too?
I have 4 awards from music, and 2 awards from my blog. Musical Award, from City Pride Magazine. Blissful Affairs Magazine, Nero just Dance Entertainment, Nigeria Safety & Security Award. Blog Award, Employers friendly award, Corporate social blogger of the year, Africa beauty summit award and beauty blogger of the year 2019, Woman of the year by Rainbow Event Magazine for contribution in fashion and entertainment industry.
Tell us more about the early challenges in your blogging career.
At the early stages, content was the problem. And I needed to be careful for me not to be penalised. Blogging has rules and regulations, I was a Freelance reporter when I just started, people helped me to get news and I gave them credit. Now I get my news myself. 80% of what I do now is from me. People use my blog as a reference. People will be attached to you when you give them due credit.
Tell us about your Music?
I sing Classical music. I don’t know how to play instruments, but, I write and I tell my Producer what I want, where I want a violin, keyboard and the rest. I choose them by myself and everything is original, I don’t believe in copying others.
Do you have an album?
Sound of Music, it has about 8 tracks, the most popular is True Love and Save a Child. I’m working on a new album titled Afraid of the dark.
Piracy?
I have always had a good rapport with the copyright people. For now, the custom is doing a good job, which is a way we can curb the copyright Offenders. Tax them or arrest them and seize their goods, for which they pay fines also. They are even promoting me but as a Lawyer, I wish they do it the right way. I meet some of them and they seem cautious knowing I could get them arrested.
People also see you as a Fashion Icon?
I have a very creative mind, I design some of my clothes. This year, I decided to do English, just like the Queen of England. I wear to match gloves with my dress or wears. I go to the market and pick a glove material to match what I’m going to wear. You will see that in most of my pictures this year. The glove is to protect me from germs. I go out almost every day and I shake people. I see why the Queen always wears gloves. Imagine during the time of Ebola and you have to shake a lot of people. The glove is my fashion statement for this year, 2019, I also design some of my hats.
More about your blog content?
When it comes to beauty, every magazine does news, but, mine isn’t just a beauty magazine, I cover prime stories as well. Every DSS news, I get them from EFCC. It’s an offence to use another person’s face/account, that is why hackers are arrested.
More about yourself?
I am a very passionate person, I hate lies.
Personal life?
I have learnt to be discreet about my personal life especially my relationship.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
I see myself in Nigeria and I will take the truth in journalism more than the lies and gossips being peddled.
Advice to young media/bloggers?
They should be focused, understand where they are coming from, let people know you as a true blogger. I source for an official press release of any news, I don’t just post news. I bank with Skye Bank, remember Skye Bank is now Polaris Bank. I found out about the change of management and I still bank with Skye Bank. Imagine, people received news of Skye Bank closing and by this evening, every customer of Skye Bank rushed to the ATM machine and started withdrawing their money. Such news can sink a bank or business. The gossip, the lies, are the problem. My blog doesn’t spread fake news, I always wait for the Press release.
A message to your Fans/Followers
Thanks for the support, especially those who appreciate our work. Stay out of trouble always. I wish you the best
And your Clients?
I wish them more money in their pockets to patronise me(laughs). Thanks for believing in my work. It can only get better with your consistent support.
