Posted by By Sola Shittu, Reporter, Ibadan on
Veteran journalist and human rights activist, Comrade Niyi Oniororo is dead.
Veteran journalist and human rights activist, Comrade Niyi Oniororo is dead.
The founder of the National Council for National Awareness and former Director of National Orientation Movement died at about 3.15 am on Sunday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan where he had been bed ridden for sometime now.
The veteran journalist had stroke that left him paralysed and bed ridden in the past three years.
His condition became worse after the gruesome murder of his only son, Dr Yomi Oniororo.
Oniororo had since been at loggerhead with government over the death of his son, which he claimed was the handiwork of government agents. Even on his sick bed he had dreamt that one day the perpetrators would be brought to book in a law court.
The mysterious circumstances in which his son died was not unravelled until his death last weekend. His death however put an end to the three years battle to unravel the killer of his son.
And as part of his efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding his son's death, Oniororo had published a book to express his position on the murder of the 29-year-old doctorate degree holder in law who was killed while working for the National Intelligence Agency.
A source at the Oniororo family residence at Ring Road, Ibadan, who confirmed his death said that his body has been moved from the UCH to a private hospital for better preservation.
Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, described Oniororo as a fearless writer who was never afraid to join issues with the powerful over the welfare of the ordinary people.
According to Ojo-Lanre, Oniororo pioneered human rights activism in the 1970s when he formed the NCNA, a non-governmental organization, after the death of General Murtala Mohammed.
Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja, said he received the news of Oniorioro's death with shock.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Prince Ade Adekanmbi, the governor described Oniororo as a great journalist, publisher and defender of the common man.
'Although a social critic, Niyi Oniororo was able to spread the journalistic gospel of this country into the international world, especially the socialist countries. The nation has lost a very valuable hand whose position is known on every national issue," Ladoja said.