President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other great Nigerians to mourn the sudden demise of veteran sports journalist, Akinloye Oyebanji. He was aged 62.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to Buhari (Media and Publicity) on Saturday, the President condoled with Oyebanji’s family, friends and colleagues, particularly at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where he worked for 35 years, making his mark as a sportscaster.
President Buhari recalled that the deceased was very good at his art, and would be sorely missed by the sporting community.
He prayed that Oyebanji’s soul finds eternal rest and that God would comfort all those that mourn him.
Earlier, his family confirmed to reporters that Oyebanji passed on at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Saturday morning after protracted battle with heart failure.
Mr Bukoye Oyebanji and Dr Steve Olarinoye, family member and close friend, disclosed that Oyebanji had been ill for almost four months now and the family had spent millions of naira to save his life without any improvement.
They said some time ago, he had the misfortune of losing his kidneys, and they were replaced successfully through a transplant in India.
“But one of the side effects of kidney transplant is heart failure, which he had experienced on two occasions and survived.”
Oyebanji served the NTA for 35 years in different capacities, including being a sports broadcaster, and later as General Manager (Sports).
He retired as Managing Director of NTA Properties at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja.
Oyebanji, who hailed from Kwara, is survived by four children and a wife.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola with additional reports from thisdaylive.com
