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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Assistant Director, Media, at the Presidential Villa, Peter Onwubuariri, describing his passing as a painful loss to the Presidency, the media community and the nation.
Onwubuariri, a veteran journalist and former staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), died in Kano on Monday evening after a prolonged illness. He was 48.
The late presidential media aide reportedly received treatment for about a month at the Kano Cancer Hospital before his death.
In a statement on Tuesday by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said Onwubuariri’s years of service under three successive administrations reflected his competence, integrity and commitment to national service.
The deceased was posted to the Presidential Villa in 2014 and subsequently served in the media teams of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the Tinubu administration.
“Peter was a dedicated journalist and a committed public servant whose professionalism and calm disposition earned him the respect of his colleagues and associates. His years of service to three administrations are a testament to his competence, integrity and commitment to duty,” Tinubu said.
“His passing is a great loss to the Presidential Villa, the media fraternity and Nigeria. He will be remembered for his diligence, his wealth of experience and his contributions to journalism and national service.”
President Tinubu extended his condolences to Onwubuariri’s wife, Catherine, his three children, extended family, colleagues and friends, praying that God would grant them the strength to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.
Before his posting to the Presidential Villa, Onwubuariri rose through the ranks at NAN, where he served as an Assistant Editor-in-Chief and contributed to the agency’s journalism and editorial operations.
He was also a former North American Correspondent of the agency and covered a broad range of national and international issues, including foreign affairs, telecommunications, politics and finance.
Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased were released on Tuesday by the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for onward transportation to Owerri, Imo State, where he is expected to be buried.
The remains were formally handed over to Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Oche Echeija Egwa, on behalf of the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, also condoled with President Tinubu and the Presidential Media Unit over Onwubuariri’s death.
The governor described the deceased as a thoroughbred professional who contributed immensely to the reputation management of the Presidency over the years.
