President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness at the death of his Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, who passed on yesterday morning.
President Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described late Oronto Douglas as “a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian, who seeks a life of service and achievement.”
Also, Senate President, David Mark, described the late Oronto as a resourceful and dedicated Nigerian, who has left a vacuum too difficult to fill.
In a condolence message to President Jonathan, government and people of Bayelsa State, Mark said the death was devastating.
IYC, too
Similarly, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide and the Ijaw nation have described the demise of Oronto Douglas as a big loss to Ijaw nation.
Also, Nigeria National Summit Group, NNSG, and the Campaign for Democracy, CD, have mourned the death of Douglas.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan said Mr. Douglas was one of the most distinguished sons of Bayelsa State “ who served his country, state and the Niger Delta region passionately and diligently, during his very impactful years on earth.”
Death
Oronto Douglas, who passed away after a protracted battle with cancer, was President Jonathan’s personal aide for close to a decade.
The statement added that the “President will always remember him for his passion for work, excellence, inspiring creativity and outstanding commitment to his duties.
“The President remains thankful to God Almighty for the brilliance and resourcefulness that Oronto brought to bear on every assignment as a loyal and dutiful aide, during his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State and Vice President, acting President and President.
Oronto-3“President Jonathan believes that Oronto will remain a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian who seeks a life of service and achievement.
“He prays that Almighty God will grant Oronto’s soul eternal rest, and the Douglas family and everyone who knew him the fortitude to bear the pain of his death.”
Speaking at the residence of Douglas, where he went with the Vice President Namadi Sambo, President Jonathan said Oronto Douglas was a strong-willed man who knew he was at the point of death, but was determined to carry on.
My years with him—Jonathan
He said: “It is quite a sad moment even though we knew. Myself and Douglas are from the same local government in Bayelsa State.
“I knew him first when I was doing my Ph.D. research, when he was environmental activist. I was doing some aspects of the ecology of the Niger Delta and my supervisor then, a Canadian, Professor Powell, knew him and we met in his house.
“But when I came into politics as a deputy governor, he was the Commissioner for Information then and we were very close.
“When I was Vice President, he was my Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, a post he held until this morning.
“He is a very dedicated young man; very committed. I was here last Saturday even though he knew because the doctors told him in America that he was going to die in three weeks, but he was still very passionate about his work.
“I have never seen such a person with such a strong will.
“Oronto was a good man. He left us too early, but God knows the best I only pray that God should provide for the family and pray that his soul should rest in peace.”
In his remarks, the Vice President Namadi Sambo described Oronto Douglas as “a person of integrity, a patriot and we pray to Almighty God that his soul shall rest in perfect peace.
“We pray that the family he left behind will have the fortitude to bear this great loss. Nigeria has lost a very good man; a person that has contributed positively to the development of this country.”
The Senate President, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said late Oronto was a scholar in his own right, adding that the Special Adviser who was a lawyer, human rights activist and environmentalist, left when his services were most needed.
He said: “It is sad that Oronto died in his prime, when the nation actually needed his services. He was a scholar in his own right.
“He was resourceful and dedicated; a think-tank who left a vacuum too difficult to fill.”
President Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described late Oronto Douglas as “a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian, who seeks a life of service and achievement.”
Also, Senate President, David Mark, described the late Oronto as a resourceful and dedicated Nigerian, who has left a vacuum too difficult to fill.
In a condolence message to President Jonathan, government and people of Bayelsa State, Mark said the death was devastating.
IYC, too
Similarly, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide and the Ijaw nation have described the demise of Oronto Douglas as a big loss to Ijaw nation.
Also, Nigeria National Summit Group, NNSG, and the Campaign for Democracy, CD, have mourned the death of Douglas.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan said Mr. Douglas was one of the most distinguished sons of Bayelsa State “ who served his country, state and the Niger Delta region passionately and diligently, during his very impactful years on earth.”
Death
Oronto Douglas, who passed away after a protracted battle with cancer, was President Jonathan’s personal aide for close to a decade.
The statement added that the “President will always remember him for his passion for work, excellence, inspiring creativity and outstanding commitment to his duties.
“The President remains thankful to God Almighty for the brilliance and resourcefulness that Oronto brought to bear on every assignment as a loyal and dutiful aide, during his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State and Vice President, acting President and President.
Oronto-3“President Jonathan believes that Oronto will remain a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian who seeks a life of service and achievement.
“He prays that Almighty God will grant Oronto’s soul eternal rest, and the Douglas family and everyone who knew him the fortitude to bear the pain of his death.”
Speaking at the residence of Douglas, where he went with the Vice President Namadi Sambo, President Jonathan said Oronto Douglas was a strong-willed man who knew he was at the point of death, but was determined to carry on.
My years with him—Jonathan
He said: “It is quite a sad moment even though we knew. Myself and Douglas are from the same local government in Bayelsa State.
“I knew him first when I was doing my Ph.D. research, when he was environmental activist. I was doing some aspects of the ecology of the Niger Delta and my supervisor then, a Canadian, Professor Powell, knew him and we met in his house.
“But when I came into politics as a deputy governor, he was the Commissioner for Information then and we were very close.
“When I was Vice President, he was my Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, a post he held until this morning.
“He is a very dedicated young man; very committed. I was here last Saturday even though he knew because the doctors told him in America that he was going to die in three weeks, but he was still very passionate about his work.
“I have never seen such a person with such a strong will.
“Oronto was a good man. He left us too early, but God knows the best I only pray that God should provide for the family and pray that his soul should rest in peace.”
In his remarks, the Vice President Namadi Sambo described Oronto Douglas as “a person of integrity, a patriot and we pray to Almighty God that his soul shall rest in perfect peace.
“We pray that the family he left behind will have the fortitude to bear this great loss. Nigeria has lost a very good man; a person that has contributed positively to the development of this country.”
The Senate President, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said late Oronto was a scholar in his own right, adding that the Special Adviser who was a lawyer, human rights activist and environmentalist, left when his services were most needed.
He said: “It is sad that Oronto died in his prime, when the nation actually needed his services. He was a scholar in his own right.
“He was resourceful and dedicated; a think-tank who left a vacuum too difficult to fill.”
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