President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the death of Peter Onwubuariri, Assistant Director, Media, at the Presidential Villa, who died in Kano after a prolonged illness.
Onwubuariri, a 48-year-old veteran journalist and staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reportedly died on Monday after receiving treatment for about a month at the Kano Cancer Hospital under the Kano State Government’s treatment authorisation.
According to his wife, Catherine Ezinna Onwubuariri, the journalist’s remains were released from the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Tuesday for burial in Owerri, Imo State.
The remains were formally handed over to Oche Egwa, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, State House, on behalf of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The handover was conducted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, spokesperson to Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
Onwubuariri, a former North American correspondent of NAN, was posted to the Presidential Villa in 2014. He subsequently served in the media teams of three successive administrations under Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the death, President Tinubu described Onwubuariri as a dedicated journalist and committed public servant whose professionalism and calm disposition earned him the respect of colleagues and associates.
The President said the deceased covered a broad range of critical national and international issues, including foreign affairs, telecommunications, politics and finance.
Tinubu commended his dedication, professionalism and commitment to duty, describing his death as a great loss to the Presidential Villa, the media community and Nigeria.
He said, “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.
“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.”
The President extended his condolences to Onwubuariri’s wife, Catherine, his three children, extended family, colleagues and friends.
He prayed that God would grant the family the strength to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.
Onwubuariri rose through the ranks at NAN before his posting to the Presidential Villa, where he served as an Assistant Editor-in-Chief and contributed significantly to the agency’s journalism and editorial operations.
