President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the State House Press Corps on Thursday commiserated with the family of the former chairman of the Corps, late Daniel Idonor.
They described the death of the journalist as a big loss to the Presidency, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the entire nation during a condolence visit to the Idonor’s residence at Mpape, Abuja.
In a message delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, Jonathan said the late Idonor was a very fair-minded newsman and supporter of the administration’s transformation agenda.
He said: “Let me convey the deep commiseration of the President of the Federal Republic, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and his Vice, Architect Namadi Sambo, whose government and activities Daniel covered for a very long time.
“We remember him as a very fair-minded reporter of activities within the Villa and a very strong supporter of the Jonathan administration.
“I recall that when I first came and I was still trying to understand the territory, he and Horatius (Egua) used to help me to fill in the gap in many regards and they will tell me jokingly: ‘look oh, we are doing your work for you. You should do this, you should that’.
“And even when the two of them went on to set up the Frontier News, they placed that platform at the service of the administration.
“They are very critical journalists, very constructive in their criticisms, but at the same time they were committed to supporting the administration because he and his brother, Horatius, believe in the administration’s transformation agenda.
“For that, we as a government are very grateful and also consider this as a very big loss.”
Abati said the Presidency was glad to have worked and related with the deceased, describing him as a sound professional.
He said: “We had our moments of tension, but we remember more the moments of friendship, brotherhood, comradeship and togetherness.
“He was a sound professional.
“He started with broadcast journalism, but he distinguished himself in print journalism.
“He further distinguished himself as a good organiser, mobiliser and leader among his peers.
“It was this that saw him venturing into politics because he was a man of ideas;.
“Never a dull moment with him.
“Even when you disagreed with him, you could be sure that he would always speak his mind and tell you the truth.”
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President Sambo, Malam Umar Sani, described the late Idonor as a very good family man.
Sani said the entire media team in the Presidency would miss the deceased, adding: “We cannot forget the good times we have shared with him, his leadership qualities and his ideas.”
He also prayed for the repose of his soul.
The Chairman of the State House Press Corps, Kehinde Amodu, said that for the nearly five years that Idonor was chairman, he provided leadership to the group and made it relevant in the scheme of things.
He said: “Daniel’s shoes were very big to fill because he connected wide and far.
“He established the press corps as it is today because before he emerged as chairman, we were trying to find relevance at the State House and he helped us to find that relevance.”
The deceased’s friend, who received the team, thanked the Presidency for the concern and kindness shown to the late journalist’s family.
Egua prayed God to grant the administration success in its future endeavours.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Idonor and his friend, Egua, co-founded the Frontline News, an online publication.