Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the late Alhaji Alade Odunewu as an “inimitable icon of journalism who used his pen to reform the society”.
Dr. Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the Odunewu’s contribution to the media profession would remain indelible in the memory of Nigerians who appreciated his readiness to defend the truth.
The Governor described Odunewu as a devout Muslim, a man of integrity, humanist and a believer in egalitarian society.
He noted that the Odunewu’s death has robbed the country of one of the doyens of journalism who mentored the younger generation of reporters, columnists and managers of newspaper business.
The Governor further described the Odunewu as a nationalist who used the platform of the media to fight colonialism and relentlessly defended the rights of Nigerians until political independence was achieved in 1990.
He described the famous column of the late Odunewu, ‘Allah De’, as the “voice of the voiceless and a parliament where the powerless had their say”.
Dr. Fayemi hailed the late media chief for holding tenaciously to his integrity throughout his years of active practice and for standing for the cause he believed in.
Describing Odunewu as a “patriot who is ever ready to offer his service to his fatherland”, the Governor opined that he was not surprised that he was called upon to serve as the Chairman of the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) long after he had retired from active journalism.
Dr. Fayemi described Odunewu’s chairmanship of the NPC as a “golden era of an ombudsman who ensured adherence to the ethics of a noble profession”.
While noting that losing such a hero could be saddening, he expressed satisfaction that Odunewu bowed out gracefully having fulfilled his mission on earth.
He urged the contemporary journalists to emulate the ideals which the Odunewu stood for in his lifetime.
Last modified: July 26, 2013