Nigeria sports journalist, Ayo Ositelu, died watching TV
by Sodiq Oyeleke
A foremost Nigeria sports journalist, Ayo Ositelu, is dead.
Kayode Tijani, ace journalist and family friend, said the deceased wife confirmed his death.
He said Ositelu died on Wednesday while watching a football match with his wife.
On his tweeter handle, he posted, "Mr. Ositelu died on Wednesday night according to Ace journalist and family friend, Kayode Tijani, who confirmed the death after speaking to the deceased’s wife.
“I can confirm now that Deacon AYO OSITELU is indeed DEAD. Spoke to his wife. He was watching TV with her and next he was dead. Am in SHOCK!”
He described Mr. Ositelu as a complete gentleman, principled and trustworthy.
Tijani who lamented the death of the deceased, said, “Deacon Ayo Ositelu told me never to detest those who wrong me, betray me/ are mean to me but still be nice and civil to them.”
As a sports journalist, Ositelu dabbled into politics emerging as the Chairman of the Ejigbo Local Council in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, said it received with shock the news of the sudden death of Veteran Sports Journalist and former Editor of Sunday Punch , Deacon Ayo Ositelu.
He described Mr. Ositelu as a complete gentleman, principled and trustworthy.
Tijani who lamented the death of the deceased, said, “Deacon Ayo Ositelu told me never to detest those who wrong me, betray me/ are mean to me but still be nice and civil to them.”
As a sports journalist, Ositelu dabbled into politics emerging as the Chairman of the Ejigbo Local Council in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, said it received with shock the news of the sudden death of Veteran Sports Journalist and former Editor of Sunday Punch , Deacon Ayo Ositelu.
The Council in a condolence message, by its Chairman , Deji Elumoye and Secretary , Sylva Okereke described late Ositelu as a quintessential sports journalist'' who was well grounded in sports reporting for over four decades''
According to the union , Ositelu who cut his journalism teeth as a rookie sports reporter with The Punch in the 1970s and through hard work was promoted Editor of Sunday Punch within a decade of practise as a journalist.
Lagos NUJ said Ositelu never left the practise of journalism for a day since he started with The Punch ''and that at various times he was a sports columnist with The Guardian newspaper while also presenting various sporting programmes on both radio and television stations in the country''
Ositelu , the statement said , was also a successful politician having served as Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area in Lagos on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN from 2005 to 2008.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the Veteran Sports journalist , Lagos NUJ said Ositelu died when his wealth of experience was much needed not only by the up and coming sports journalists but sporting sector in general.
The Council added that a condolence register has since been opened for late Ositelu at the Ladi Lawal Press Centre Secretariat of the union in Alausa , Ikeja.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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