Dimgba Igwe Was My Personal Friend, Says Atiku Abubakar

Former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described late Dimgba Igwe, Vice Chairman of the Sun Newspaper Company, knocked down and killed by a moving vehicle in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos as a personal friend.
He recalled that he last saw Dimba Igwe in January this year and that he was as lively as ever “and full of bluster.”
In a statement personally signed by himself, Atiku Abubakar said: “the demise of Dimba Igwe, who was a personal friend of mine will leave a huge hole in the spectrum of journalism profession in Nigeria.
“The sudden nature of his death came as a rude shock and journalism in Nigeria has lost a gem and will surely miss one of its finest minds.
“My condolences go to the Nigeria Press Organization (NPO), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Sun Newspapers of Nigeria, where he was deputy chairman of the board of directors and his family. It is my prayer that God almighty gives them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

This is even as the former Lagos governor and current chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the death of Dimgba Igwe as shocking, adding: “The tribe of great journalists in Nigeria has again been depleted by this sudden death. It is indeed a sad day for the media and all those that were associated with Dimgba.  He was a thoroug bred journalist and writer who remained steadfast and lifted the Sun newspapers to a position of reckoning.”

Tinubu who described the circumstances of his death as painful and avoidable said it was a great loss that saddened him deeply.

“I knew Dimgba personally and respected his professional contributions to building our country.  I recall vividly my encounter with him. Dimgba and Mike Awoyinfa after chasing me down and interviewed me for close to three hours on the book they were writing on Lagos state and the post military era development. It was an enjoyable experience.

“My condolences go out to his wife and family and all relatives. I pray God will grant them strength for this period and peace they need this trying time.Tinubu also extends his heartfelt sympathy to the publisher, management and staff of The Sun newspapers.” [myad]