Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki on Tuesday said they received the news of the death of Chukwuma Onuekwusi, Channels Television State House Correspondent, with great sadness
Onuekwusi the State House Correspondent of Channels Television, died in the early hours of yesterday at a private hospital in Abuja.
. Osinbajo, according to a statement by his media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said he sent his heartfelt condolences to his family and Channels television family on the sad passing of Onuekwusi.
He also commiserated with members of State House Press Corps over the passage of their professional colleague whom he said combined a high sense of professionalism with dedication and patriotism in his diligent reportage of activities in the Presidential Villa.
The acting president prayed the Almighty God to comfort his family and all who are affected by “the death of this exceptional gentleman.â€
On his part, Saraki expressed sadness over the death of Onuekwusi.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, he described Onuekwusi as a hardworking, passionate and conscientious reporter who left nobody in doubt about his professional competence.
He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the management and staff of Channels Television and the State House Correspondents over the loss of the broadcast journalist.
“The news of the demise of Chukwuma Onuekwusi came to me with great shock. He was a thoroughbred broadcast journalist whose reports always leave you wanting more,†Saraki said.
“I believe his death has left a vacuum in the broadcast industry that cannot easily be filled. We can only thank God for his eventful life, contributions to national development and service to humanity. He shall be sorely missed,†he said.
While praying that God should grant the soul of the departed eternal rest, he called on other reporters in broadcast media covering sensitive beats to borrow a leaf from Onuekwusi’s humility, dynamism and dedication to his job.
Onuekwusi had covered several beats on Channels Television before he was seconded to cover the Presidential Villa as the State House correspondent.
He is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and joined the television station in 1998.
He died at the age of 55 and is survived by his wife and children.
