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, Comrade 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 Nigeria Union of Journalist 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 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.
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.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
