Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his condolences on the death of the Publisher of Eagle Online Newspaper, Mr Dotun Oladipo.
The late Mr Oladipo, a former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers ( GOCOP), died on Tuesday after a brief illness. He was aged 56.
Governor Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, regretted that Nigeria has lost one of its finest and most talented journalists.
He described the late Mr Oladipo as a vibrant, articulate and versatile professional who enriched the media space with his intellect, industry and brilliance in informing, educating and entertaining Nigerians with his brand of journalism.
Governor Oyebanji recalled that the deceased was one of the pioneers of online journalism after putting in decades of unblemished practice as a reporter and later as editor in some prominent news organisations in the country.
He added that the role of the deceased as an elder statesman of online news publishing was recognized with his emergence as President of the Guild of Online Corporate Publishers (GOCOP) a role he held between 2017 and 2021
The Ekiti helmsman said the late media executive used his profession to speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable through his writings, analysis and contributions to burning national issues thereby deepening the nation’s democracy.
According to him, the late Mr Oladipo was a respected voice in the polity through his appearances on radio and television programmes, most prominently on the popular JOURNALISTS’ HANGOUT on Television Continental (TVC).
The Governor noted that the late Mr Oladipo brought integrity to bear in the practice of the profession he loved passionately and earned distinction within and outside the country.
The Governor commiserated with the deceased’s immediate family, friends, associates and admirers who are still shocked by his demise praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the tragic loss.
He urged them to be consoled by the good life he lived and worthy legacies he left behind.
