Jonathan, Sambo, Pays Condolence Visit to Late Oronto Douglas` Family

President Goodluck Jonathan with  Mr. Oronto Douglas's wife during the condolence visit

•  He was a dedicated and committed  man, says Jonathan

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday described the death of his Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas as quite a sad moment.

The president said while alive, the deceased was a dedicated and committed man.

The president spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Abuja in company with his vice, Namadi Sambo.

Jonathan "myself and Douglas are from the same local government in Bayelsa state. I knew him first when I was doing my Ph.D research work when he was environmental activist, I was doing some aspects of the ecology of the Niger Delta and my supervisor then one Canadian Prof. Powell knew him and we met in his house.

"But when I came into politics as a deputy governor he was the commissioner for information then and we were very close. He came with me as my adviser as vice president ‎on research, documentation and strategy, a post he held until this morning.

"He is a very dedicated young man very committed. I was here last Saturday even though he knew because the doctors told him in America that he was going to die in three weeks but he was still very passionate about his work. I have never seen such a person with such a strong will.

"Oronto was a good man; he left us too early but God knows the best I only pray that God should provide for the family and pray that his soul should rest in peace."

On his part, Sambo said: "This is a very sad day for us. We have lost a very good friend, a brother and a patriotic Nigerian. He is a person of integrity, a patriot and we pray to Almighty God that his soul shall rest in perfect peace.

"We pray that the family he left behind will have the fortitude to bear this great loss. Nigeria has lost a very good man, a person that has contributed positively to the development of this country."

Some of the early callers at Douglas's house were former Bayelsa State governor, Dipreye Alamieyesigha‎, who described him as someone who never slacked in any assignments he was given.

"We have been praying and trusting God for a miracle. There are a lot of things we did behind the scenes together to strengthen this government, he never slacked on any assignment given him. When he served as Commissioner for Information during my government, he was always meticulous and turned in his assignments on time" he said.

‎The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said Douglas was a great thinker that will be solely missed, saying.   "he is a great man that will be solely missed. He was very celebral and respected in the entire international community. He was a great thinker a environmental rights activist."