• Kogi gov, Atiku mourn
From Romanus Ugwu, Magnus Eze, Abuja and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The remains of former Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, were laid to rest, yesterday, at about 5.30 pm, according to Islamic rites, in Oboroke-Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Aged 57, Onukaba was involved in motor accident on Sunday evening in Akure, Ondo State while returning from the 80th birthday celebration of Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo which took place in Abeokuta.
He and his brothers were said to have run into an armed robbery scene few miles to Akure, where another vehicle, equally escaping the robbery spot, ran into him. He died on the spot and his corpse was later deposited at a morgue in Akure.
He left behind a wife, Memunat and three children.
Ironically, Onukaba’s death occurred barely three weeks after he mobilised the Ebira People’s Association (EPA) to address press conference in Abuja on the state of insecurity in Kogi State. Until his death, Onukaba was the Secretary General of EbiraPeople’s Association (EPA).
His burial was attended by dignitaries, relations, friends, colleagues and government officials, including the Director-General, the state Bureau of Information and youth mobilisation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Abdulkarim.
Meanwhile, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has described the death of Adinoyi-Ojo, who he described as a veteran journalist, as a big loss to the government and people of the state.
Bello, in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, said he was, particularly, sad that Adinoyi-Ojo’s death came at a time the state needed his services most.
He, however, commended Adinoyi-Ojo’s contributions to journalism profession, saying that the deceased departed the world with good character, integrity, honour and intellectual sagacity.
The governor prayed God to grant the reposed soul of the departed journalist eternal rest.
Former Vice President and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, described the death of the veteran journalist, playwright and academic as shocking and painful beyond words.
In a statement released from his media office in Abuja, the Turaki Adamawa, who knew Ojo for nearly three decades, described his former spokesperson as an irreplaceable asset and said he was loyal and reliable till death.
“Onukaba was at my house just on Friday. He visited me before travelling out of Abuja. I had no idea that was the last time I would ever set my eyes on him,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President equally recalled Ojo’s relationship with him over the years as a journalist covering aviation; as the man who penned his popular biography; as an indispensable member of his media team; a political protégé and the man who boldly spoke the truth always.
“Ojo had little concern for material things. He was a pure intellectual, motivated only by a desire to give the best that his brains had to offer.”
He further noted that an entire book of thousands of pages would be needed if he were to say everything that he thought and felt about his long-time friend, now gone, forever.
“May God grant his family, in particular his children, the grace they need to go through this toughest of times,” he said.
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