· Atiku mourns
The former Managing Director of Daily Times
Plc, Dr. Adinoyi Onukaba Ojo is dead.
 |
| Late Mr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo |
The late Onukaba Ojo who was former Senior
Special Assistant on Media in the office of the former Vice President, Alhaji
Abubakar Atiku was killed in Akure at about 10 pm last Sunday night on his way
from Abeokuta in Ogun State to Abuja where he had joined other dignitaries to
attend the inauguration of Obasanjo Presidential Library.
An eye witnessed account disclosed to THISDAY
that Dr. Adinoyi Onukaba Ojo who left Abeokuta with some of his friends lost
his life in Akure, Ondo State, the spot is said to be about 10 minutes’ drive
to Akure
The sources disclosed further that when they
sighted armed robbers robbing passengers, they quickly stopped their car and
dashed into the bush but Onukaba was not so lucky as he was crushed to death by
another oncoming vehicle in an attempt to cross the road to the other side.
One of his relation, Mr Yusuf Itopa who was
former Chief Press Secretary to the former deputy governor of Kogi State, Chief
Philip Salawu who confirmed his death to newsmen yesterday in Lokoja said that
late veteran journalist turned politician was knocked down by an oncoming
vehicle while running into a nearby bush to escape an armed robbery attack.
According to him three of them, including his
driver were traveling when they ran into a blockade mounted by armed robbers.
The late Onukaba had earlier lost his first
wife, Rachael about five years ago.
His body is expected to be brought home today
in Ihima, Okehi local government council of Kogi State from Akure for burial.
Meanwhile, former Vice President and Chieftain of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the death of veteran
journalist, playwright, writer and academic Onukaba Ojo as shocking and painful
beyond words.
In
a statement released by his media office in Abuja, Atiku Abubakar, who has known
Ojo for nearly three decades, described his former spokesperson as an
irreplaceable asset, who was loyal and reliable until the very last day.
“Onukaba
was at my house just on Friday,” Atiku said. “He visited me just before
travelling out of Abuja. I had no idea that it was the last time I would ever
set eyes on him.”
The
Turakin Adamawa recalled Ojo’s relationship with him over the past few decades,
as a journalist covering aviation; as the man who penned his popular biography;
as the man who was an indispensible member of his media team; as the man who
became his political protégé; and as the man who boldly spoke the truth to him
always.
“Ojo
had little concern for material things,” Atiku said. “He was a pure
intellectual, motivated only by a desire to give the best that his brains had
to offer.”
The
former Vice President added 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.
·
Source: ThisDay/The News Guru
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