Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki,Kogi State Governor Yahaya and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of a former Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria, Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba.
He was allegedly knocked down by a vehicle while escaping a armed robbery blockade.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described Onukaba as a quintessential intellectual, consummate administrator, complete gentleman and a detribalised Nigerian.
According to Saraki, Onukaba would be missed for his contributions to the country’s growth, both in the media, literary and political fields.
He commiserated with his immediate family, the government and people of Kogi State over the “untimely death of their dear son and a true Nigerian”.
Urging his family to take solace in the fact that Onukaba served his country excellently and left his footprints on the sands of time, he prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.
Bello commiserated with the people of the state and family of the late journalist and former Kogi governorship aspirant, Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, on his death.
The Kogi State governor, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Petra Akinti Onyegbule, said Onukaba’s death was hard for the people, coming barely after a year of the loss of another illustrious son of the state and former Minister of State for Labour James Ocholi.
The statement read: “This is especially sad and painful coming on the first anniversary of the death of another illustrious Kogi son and legal luminary, Barrister James Ocholi, SAN, who died in active service.”
He prayed that God should put a stop to such loss of prominent indigenes in their prime.
He added: “Onukaba was a rare gem, a sound mind and a technocrat per excellence. He will be sorely missed for his kind-heartedness. He has done things definitely worth writing about and written things worth reading, and as such, can never be forgotten in coming generations.”
He prayed that Allah comfort his family and grant repose to the soul of the departed.
Mark described the death of the frontline journalist and playwright as devastating .
He noted that the late journalist was a patriotic Nigerian who worked and believed in the sanctity of the unity and peace of the nation.
The former Senate President spoke through a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh.
Mark recalled the contributions of Onukaba, especially to the literary community and submitted that the late author was one of the brightest and fertile minds in the contemporary history of Nigeria.
Atiku described the late Onukaba Adenoyi-Ojo as a loyal and an irreplaceable asset and a great loss to the journalism profession.
In a condolence message from his media office in Abuja, the former vice president described his death as shocking, painful and beyond words, adding that he saw him right before he travelled out of Abuja.
He said: “Onukaba was at my house just on Friday. 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.”
Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, described the untimely death of Onukaba, as a great loss to journalism profession.
Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye, in a tribute yesterday, said the late writer’s experience as a quintessential journalist will be missed, saying that his death through motor accident was regrettable.
Praying to God to grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Elumoye noted that Adinoyi-Ojo, as a seasoned journalist who was very active as a member of The Guardian chapel of Lagos NUJ some years back, “also tried all his possible best to ensure that welfare of journalists and other workers was a priority while he held sway as Daily Times MD few years back”

He said the late journalist rose through the ranks and got to the pinnacle of his professional calling before venturing into politics, where he also made his mark, especially in his home state, Kogi State, where he tried twice in the past to be the governor.
Elumoye said the death of the veteran journalist through motor accident showed the deplorable condition of the federal roads across the country and called on government to effect timely repairs of these highways “so as to reduce cases of accident and untimely death of people”.