Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday described the death of Oluremi Oyo, the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as painful.
Mrs Oyo, who was the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Obasanjo when he was president between 1999 and 2007, died in a London on Wednesday at the age of 61.
Reacting to the death, Obasanjo said in a statement in Abeokuta that: “The sudden death of this thorough-bread journalist left a very sour taste in our mouths.”
He noted that Oyo, through her public service as his media aide, earned the recognition and admiration of many of her compatriots across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“She was a dutiful and hardworking woman and did her very best to the end in the service of her fatherland.
“She was not only dutiful; she was professional and loyal to the core.
“Not only was she loyal in terms of her job, but loyal in terms of being a Nigerian.
“Her integrity was above board and on no account could anyone persuade her to do what she considered not to be right.
“She was ever resourceful, trustworthy and always conducted herself with humility.
“Remi left an indelible mark in her national assignment at the federal level, even as the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria.
“The finality of Remi’s passage is painful, especially as she still had a lot to contribute to her family, community and the entire nation.
“We can however draw solace in the fact that she lived a very responsible and caring life.
“Indeed, her manners and conduct while alive will continue to linger in our memories and serve as a source of inspiration,” he said.
On his part, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, described Oyo’s death as a loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general.
Amosun said Oyo was not only an icon of an ideal journalist, but also a trail blazer in the pen profession.
“I used to marvel at her energy and dedication to duty as Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
“I used to wonder how a woman could keep up with such a strenuous job as the first female spokesperson to a president,” he said.
Amosun commiserated with the deceased family, management and staff of NAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors as well as the media industry in Nigeria.
