The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has described the deaths of Deacon Tunde Ogunesan and Mrs Victoria Ojo as a great loss to the council as well as journalism profession.
The NUJ in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Ademola Babalola, and Secretary, Olusola Oladapo, described the death of the duo as a big blow too difficult to bear.
Ogunesan, a former Chief Correspondent and one-time NUJ Chairman with African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publisher of Tribune Titles, was until his death the Secretary, Saki East Local Government Area, Ago-Amodu in Oke-Ogun zone of Oyo State.
In the same vein, Ojo was in the Programmes Department of the Amuludun FM, Moniya, Ibadan, which is a branch of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ibadan Zonal Station.
The NUJ described Ogunesan as a thoroughbred professional, whose contributions to the NUJ cannot be underestimated.
“Tunde Ogunesan was a pious Christian, a just personality and great advocate for justice and fairplay in the union matters. He was hardworking and he was an exemplar of a good family man.
“Also, Mrs. Victoria Ojo, was a quintessential journalist, a good wife and mother. The vacuum she left behind would be very difficult to fill.
“However, it must be stated that death is inevitable end of every human being. The holy book says, there is time for everything; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest.
“So, we urge all and sundry to do good always because no one knows the time the end will come. It is also important for everyone of us to know our health status and take good care of it.
“Our prayer is that may Almighty God grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable losses, and may God cancel premature death in our midst and bless us all with long life, sound health and prosperity,” the union said.
*”A Pillar has fallen” – Oyo SWAN mourns dead former Secretary, Tunde Ogunesan*
The death of a frontline journalist, Deacon Oluwatunde Ogunesan has been described as the fall of a supportive pillar.
The Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State chapter Mr Niyi Alebiosu said this in a condolence message released by the Association’s Secretary Adewale Tijani.
Alebiosu, who worked with late Ogunesan at the Nigerian Tribune, said his death robbed Oyo SWAN and NUJ of a selfless leader who worked for peace and justice to prevail in the unions.
“This is a dark day, not only for me as a person, but for the entire members of SWAN in Oyo State. We lost a committed leader who strived for the progress of Association”, Alebiosu said.
He recalled that late Ogunesan was one of the peacemakers who resolved the crises which engulfed both NUJ and SWAN four years ago.
Also mourning the late journalist, the Secretary of Oyo SWAN, Mr Adewale Tijani said that Ogunesan would be remembered for his role in the emergence of the present leaderships of SWAN and NUJ in the state.
“Ogunesan was not just a colleague, he was one of our supporters who stood by us through thick and thin. He was one of one of the loyalists behind our triumph and success story. His death is a collosal loss to Alebiosu and me”, Tijani lamented.
The departed journalist was a former Secretary of the Tribune chapel of the NUJ. He also served as the scribe of the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.
Tunde Ogunesan, who hailed from Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, had worked with Nigerian Tribune, from where he secured political appointment in 2020.
He was until his death, the Secretary of Saki East Local Government area of the state.
Deacon Oluwatunde Ogunesan died on Monday following a brief illness.
