President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock over the death of the Vice Chairman of the Sun Newspapers.Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on behalf of his family and the Federal Government, extended heartfelt condolences to the publisher of The Sun newspapers, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and all friends and associates of the late senior journalist.
“President Jonathan believes that the late Mr. Igwe will always be remembered as a hardworking and dependable professional, who, through his various writings as columnist, author and public speaker, demonstrated a special ability to convey the truth and his convictions in lucid, compelling prose, and in a style that was shorn of cant and foppery.
“As they mourn him, the President enjoins Mr. Igwe’s family, friends and associates to be consoled by the knowledge that he put his God-given abilities to the best possible use in a very purposeful life that was wholly devoted to the defence of truth and the public interest, as well as the promotion of the highest standards of his chosen profession of journalism.
“President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of the very forthright journalist and media administrator, and also grant his soul, peaceful repose.”
Igwe’s death, my saddest day, says Kalu The Publisher and Chairman of The Sun Group of Newspapers and New Telegraph, Dr. Orji Kalu, has described the death of the Vice-Chairman of the media conglomerate, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, on Saturday, as the saddest day of his life.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Kalu, who is in London, said sorrowfully, in a telephone conversation, that he was devastated by Igwe’s death.
“Igwe, apart from being my kinsman, was one of the founding pillars in the establishment of The Sun. He worked tirelessly with others to ensure the instant success story associated with our tabloid today.
I will surely miss his professional advice, camaraderie and brotherliness,” Kalu said. Igwe, a distinguished journalist and media manager, was knocked down in Lagos by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday morning while jogging in his neighbourhood.
Kalu enjoined God to strengthen his family and associates to bear this irreparable loss, pointing out that “journalism has just lost one of its brightest minds respected for analytical writings right from his National Concord days. This is indeed my saddest day.”
Igwe was the Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun before becoming its vice-chairman. He was a shining star – APC The All Progressives Congress yesterday condoled with the management and staff of The Sun Newspapers over the death the Vice-Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Dimgba Igwe.
In a statement by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said that with his death, Nigerian journalism has lost a shining star.
The party also condoled with the family and friends of the late senior journalist and prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear their loss. It expressed shock and sadness at the sudden death of such a vibrant, cerebral and wonderful person, who has been a constant star in the constellation of Nigerian journalism for decades, without compromising his personal and professional integrity. APC called on the police to find and bring to justice the driver of the vehicle that knocked down Pastor Igwe while he was jogging around his residence.
“Words are not enough to describe the huge loss, to his family, friends, profession and indeed our entire nation, that Igwe’s death represents. But we are sure the achievements he recorded in his lifetime will forever be a source of pride – and indeed a soothing balm – to all.
“May the good Lord grant repose to his soul and comfort those he left behind,” the party stated. Mimiko: Dimgba’s death, colossal loss to pen profession Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has described the death of the Vice-Chairman and pioneer Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, as “shocking, tragic and a colossal loss to the pen profession, the literary world and the Nigeria nation.”
Reacting to the news of the death of the Associate Publisher, Entertainment Express Newspaper, yesterday, the governor in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said the columnist of repute bestrode the journalism profession as a colossus, winning many professional awards and distinguishing himself as a worthy practitioner of the Fourth Estate.
According to him, the late journalist took his job as his passion and his passion as his job. Mimiko expressed the condolences and sympathy of the people and government of Ondo State to the bereaved family, Publisher of The Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the Management and entire staff of The Sun Newspapers and Entertainment Express.
He was a beacon of the media, says Ajimobi Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has commiserated with The Sun family and Nigerian journalists in general on the sudden death of the Vice- Chairman of the newspaper, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
He made this known yesterday in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.
According to the governor, the death of the veteran journalist was shocking and heart-rending. “Igwe was one of the beacons of the journalism profession.
He was one of the profession. That a man of peace like him could be visited by the violence of the road is one of the contradictions of life,” the governor said.
He recalled Igwe’s “deep, incisive and fluid” commentaries on the back page of The Sun and said that he had made remarkable contributions to the cause of journalism in Nigeria, stating that the country would miss him greatly. The governor also recollected Igwe’s days at the National Concord and his contributions to the founding of the Sun which he and his friend, Mike Awoyinfa, pioneered, stating that the country would not forget him in a hurry.
While commiserating with the Publisher of The Sun, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, and The Sun family, Ajimobi urged them to take solace in what he called the uncommon intellectual strides of the late Igwe and take his death as an act of God.
“He came to the world for the purpose of enriching journalism, discourses at the public sphere and he did this very remarkably. He left when the ovation was loudest. We should all bother less about him as he has fulfilled his destiny but bother more about what marks we are making in our various endeavours,” he said.
Ajimobi also urged the late Igwe’s family not to mourn the late journalist, stating that death is a necessary end that all would face at some point in the journey of life. I’m devastated – Peter Obi A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday said he was devastated by the death of Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
He recalled the last conversation he had with Igwe, who was bent on organising a forum for him to tell the young ones his experiences as the governor of Anambra State for leadership lessons therein. Obi noted Nigeria had lost one of its most resourceful journalists.
Obi, who said he had already called to commiserate with the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, on the incident, prayed to God for the repose of Igwe’s soul. It’s a sad loss to journalism, literary world – Fashola Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday expressed shock and sadness at the sudden death of veteran journalist, columnist and Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
In a condolence message to the widow of the late journalist, who had also once served as the Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Editor-in- Chief of The Sun Newspapers, the governor said the death was a sad loss to the journalism profession in particular and the literary world in general.
Describing the late Igwe as a trail blazer, who along with his age-long friend and partner, Mike Awoyinfa, pioneered a refreshing brand of newspapering with the Weekend Concord, the governor recalled the vibrancy which the late Igwe brought into journalism with his inimitable writing style and comments on contemporary issues as well as the stimulating biographies which he authored. According to the governor, he had the opportunity to further observe Igwe as a perceptive professional on the occasions he met with him and his colleague, in the course of an ongoing book project.
While condoling with the entire Sun Newspapers family, he beseeched God to grant the widow and the relatives left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss while praying for the repose of the soul of the departed journalist.
Amosun mourns, commiserates with Sun Newspapers Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has expressed deep shock at the news of the demise of front line journalist and Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, Mr Dimgba Igwe.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said he is saddened by the news of the sudden death of the veteran journalist, describing it as a big loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general. “Dimgba Igwe was a cerebral and fearless Journalist, prolific writer and renowned media administrator, who was well respected in his profession.
I recall the last time I saw him and Mike Awoyinfa, when they came to interview me. I feel so sad that such a thoroughbred journalist, who still had so much to give to the journalism profession and indeed the development of our country died in his prime,” the governor said.
Amosun commiserated with the family of the deceased, management and staff of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, and the media industry in Nigeria on the demise of the front line journalist. He prayed to the almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
He was a great journalist – Ekweremadu The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has expressed shock and deep sorrows over the death of the Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Limited, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, who died yesterday.
Senator Ekweremadu who described late Igwe as a “quintessential journalist”, said the death was a “typical thunderbolt from a blue, serene, sky”.
He said: “I am short of words to describe this sad event. Sometimes, life could be cruel beyond measure, and this is one of such instances.
It is a grievous loss to not only the Sun Publishing family, but our media industry and the nation as a whole. “Pastor Dimgba was one of the finest hands in the nation’s media industry.
Besides leaving footprints of excellence on many of the nation’s leading media houses, including the Sun Publishing Limited, his regular column, “Sideview” was a prototype of excellence and professionalism. He was a flawless writer, a compelling analyst, and God-fearing media guru. He told the truth, as he knew it, in a sermon-like manner that held his readers addicted and spellbound.
He will be highly missed.”, he lamented. In a statement circulated by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, the Deputy Senate boss expressed heartfelt condolences to the late journalist’s household, the Sun Publishing Limited family, and the entire Nigerian media industry. He also prayed God to grant the soul of late Dimgba a peaceful repose.
source: New Telegraph
