President Goodluck Jonathan has described the death of the publisher of the Tribune Newspapers, Oluwole Awolowo, as sad and painful.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity.
Jonathan noted that the late Awolowo was a distinguished evangelist, humanist and community leader.
He also described the deceased as a worthy and honoured member of the Awolowo dynasty, who diligently served God and humanity to the best of his ability.
The president commended Awolowo’s steadfast, life-long commitment to upholding, maintaining and continually improving the Tribune newspapers.
Edward Dickson, the managing director of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, had on Wednesday night announced that Oluwole, the publisher of the Tribune titles, had died in a London hospital at the age of 70.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has also expressed shock over the death of Oluwole Awolowo, the son of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.
Mimiko, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Eni Akinsola, said the death came as a blow to many considering the fact that the deceased was survived by an aged mother, Hannah Awolowo.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun described the death of Oluwole Awolowo as a big loss.
Amosun, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta by Funmi Wakama, his senior special assistant on media, said the death was a sad occurrence which had thrown the state into mourning.
“We are surprised to hear about the sudden departure of the publisher of Tribune Newspapers who was not only the son of our late sage, but was himself a major political figure”.
The Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, described the passage of the publisher of the Tribune titles and only surviving male child of Obafemi Awolowo, Oluwole, as shocking and a great loss to Yorubaland.
He made this known in statement issued in Ibadan by his special adviser on media, Festus Adedayo.
“Oluwole Awolowo’s passage, shortly after the demise of his sister, Ayo Soyode, is a great blow to Yorubaland…He was a jolly good fellow who desired the good of the Yoruba nation and who worked for a return to a path of peaceful nationhood,” the governor remarked.
Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, said Oluwole Awolowo’s death was a big blow not only to the immediate family but also the entire Awolowo political dynasty, South-West and the nation as a whole.
In a statement issued by the director, bureau of communications and strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the death of Oluwole Awolowo came as a rude shock.
According to him, until his last breath on earth, Oluwole proved that he was a successful businessman, administrator and leader of people.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State expressed shock on the death of Oluwole Awolowo.
Fayemi in a statement by his chief press secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, regretted that death has robbed the Awolowo clan of a shinning star who had been a motivator of the family since the demise of the patriarch, Obafemi Awolowo.
The governor stressed that the loss became more painful by the fact that the family was yet to fully recover from the death of Oluwole’s sister, Ayodele Soyode, who passed on less than two years ago.
Olajumoke Akinjide, minister of state for FCT, has commiserated with the Awolowo family over the death of Oluwole Awolowo.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Oluyinka Akintunde, the special assistant (media and publicity) to the minister of state for FCT.
The statement quoted the minister as expressing her heartfelt condolences to the board, management and staff of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, over the death of Awolowo.
She stated that Awolowo’s demise was a great loss to the nation, but took solace in the fact that he left a good legacy worthy of emulation and attained a spiritual piety as a Christian.
Former governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, described the death of Awolowo as painful and a great loss to disciples of the sage, the late Obafemi Awolowo, praying for the repose of his soul.
REMI FEYISIPO & RAZAQ AYINLA
