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| Remi Oyo |
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday condoled with the family of the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo, who died in a London Hospital, Oct. 1, 2014.
The President in a statement by his spokerspon, Reuben Abati described the late Oyo as a trailblazer.
According to the statement, Jonathan, on behalf of his family and the Federal Government, extended his sincere condolences to her husband, Vincent, her children, Otome and Okiemuote, her surviving siblings and other relatives.
The President similarly commiserated with the Nigerian Guild of Editors who Dame Oyo served most admirably as a two-term President in the course of her trail-blazing journalism career, the management and staff of NAN as well as the many colleagues and friends she garnered in her very fulfilled life.
He prayed that God Almighty will comfort her family and all who mourn Dame Oyo, and grant her kind soul peaceful repose in eternity.
Similarly, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday described the death of Dame Remi Oyo, the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as painful.
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.
Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola expressed shock and sadness over the death of Oluremi Oyo.
The governor, who mourned her sudden demise described the late Oluremi Oyo as a forthright journalist who practised journalism driven by values and comported herself as a worthy role model in the profession throughout her lifetime.
The Governor in a condolence Press Release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said she would be sorely missed by all.
Recalling the dynamism which Mrs. Oluremi Oyo brought to bear on her national assignment as spokesperson to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and her leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the NAN, Fashola noted that her painful passage should serve as inspiration to all media professionals to always strive for excellence.
Fashola who expressed his heartfelt condolences to the widower, Mr. Vincent Oyo and the family, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, prayed that God Almighty grants the departed soul peaceful repose and abide with all family members and the journalism family left behind.
The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, also lamented the death of Mrs. Remi Oyo .
Sen. Mark, who described Oyo as a veteran journalist, said she distinguished herself as a professional and a successful administrator of very high repute.
The senate president recalled that as Media Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, she exceedingly deployed her professional competence to the service of her fatherland.
He noted that she would be remembered for her uncommon patriotism, honesty and commitment to nation building.
Mark urged her family to take solace that she lived an accomplished life and left her positive foot prints on the sands of time.
On his part, Ogun Gov. 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.
He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased. (NAN)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the death of Mrs. Remi Oyo, was not only a loss to Nigerian journalism, but also to Nigerian women at large.
The former Vice President noted that Oyo’s rise to prominence in her chosen profession was a testimony to the fact that women could attain any position through excellence, once the opportunity was given to them.
Atiku Abubakar explained that the late Oyo was a pride to Nigerian journalism and womanhood at large, adding that she was a role model to many professional women committed to hard-work and excellence.
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