NUJ FCT Mourns Journalist, John Oba

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council has expressed grief over the death of a senior journalist, Mr John Oba, who died in the early Thursday after a brief illness in the FCT.

In a statement jointly signed by Comrades Osaretin Osadebamwen and Ochiaka Ugwu, the chairman and secretary of the council, it said Oba who worked at different times with both LEADERSHIP and Blueprint Newspapers was a tireless defender of the freedom, independence and pluralism of the media.

According to the statement, responsible reportage was his life struggle, which he fought with unshakeable conviction and upheld the ethics of the profession till the end.

“With boundless energy and a ready commitment to proactive reporting, Oba in synergy with his fellow agric reporters nurtured and registered ‘The Media Network for Food and Water Safety’ which was meant to revolutionise food and water reportage in Nigeria. This best explains why many media practitioners mourned his passing.

“There is no doubt that this is certainly not the best time for the NUJ family and agric correspondents. It is more disturbing that he died when his services were most needed by the council and his community,” the statement said.