President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the family, friends and associates of ace photo-journalist, Peter Oyeyemi Obe, who died on Sunday, in Lagos, at the age of 81 years. He said late Obe will be remembered as a thorough-bred professional, who put his immense skills and talent to the best possible use in a very illustrious career that spanned many decades.
In a message signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan noted that the history of journalism in the country will not be complete without an acknowledgement of Obe’s pioneering role in the development of photo-journalism in the country as well as his lucid documentation of the Nigerian civil war and other profound events in the evolution of the nation.
The president enjoined his professional successors and other media practitioners to strive to emulate Obe’s exemplary commitment, dedication and patriotism which were always apparent throughout his long and highly successful career.
He prayed that God Almighty will receive Obe’s gentle soul and grant him eternal rest.
Also, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the ace photographer, as an icon of photo journalism in Nigeria.
Amosun expressed shock at the news of the exit of the veteran photographer, describing it as a great loss to the media industry.
In a press release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun described Obe as a master of the art of press photography, who bestrode the Nigerian journalism like a colossus.
“He was the quintessential photo journalist, a thoroughbred professional. His works have been a source of knowledge and inspiration to many in the profession right from his eventful days in the Daily Times as the chief cameraman,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has described the death of Obe as a big blow to photo journalism.
In his condolence message to the family of the late photographer released by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, Dr Mimiko said the death of Obe at this time Journalism is undergoing a unique transformation with the emergence of the social media is a big blow to Photo journalism in particular and journalism as a whole.
“No doubt, Obe was a force in the lens profession and one way or the other, he would have enhanced the photography aspect of the social media because he was a pathfinder and a visionary who brought dynamism and core professionalism to the photo aspect of journalism” the message read.
Lamenting the death of Obe “at this peculiar time”, Mimiko said its most unfortunate that the photographer passed on when the social medium journalism in the nation is beginning to take a form.
Mimiko said in the days of Obe at the defunct Daily Times, he was able to demonstrate to the reading public that photography tells the story. “Before the Obe revolution, information are best communicated in writing form, but the late Ace photographer was able to demonstrate that photographs also speak.”
Condoling with the family of the late photographer, Dr Mimiko prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
He also prayed God to give his colleagues in the lens profession the grace to bear the loss of “their dear and exemplary colleague”.
Source- Tribune
Recent Comments