The presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed “shock and anguish” over the sudden death of the Chairman of one of Nigeria’s media groups, Chief Wale Aboderin of the Punch newspapers conglomerate.
Atiku, in a condolence message signed by his media office on Thursday, said he felt the pains of the immediate Aboderin family in particular; the media, especially the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the teeming lovers of Punch newspapers worldwide.
“In today’s world, 60 years is too young an age for anyone to pass on with their lofty dreams. Wale Aboderin’s untimely departure is certainly heartbreaking: painful to the family, a monumental loss to the fourth estate of the realm and the nation at large,” the Waziri of Adamawa said.
The former Vice President noted that Wale had been in the vanguard of sustaining the vision of his late father and founder of the Punch group of newspapers and that he had also made his own mark as a philanthropist and founder of Dolphins Female Basketball Foundation.
Atiku prays that the soul of the deceased shall find rest in eternity, and also that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Chief Aboderin died on Wednesday after a brief illness.
The Punch was founded by Wale’s father, the late Chief James Olu Aboderin. Chief Aboderin was succeeded as Chairman by the late Chief Moyo Aboderin. Chief Ajibola Ogunshola took over from Moyo Aboderin after his death.
The late Wale, a trained commercial pilot, took over from Ogunshola and brought professionalism to the operations of the Punch newspaper, registered on August 8, 1970 and now considered as Nigeria’s most influential newspaper.
He was founder and owner of Dolphins Basketball Club, a leading African female basketball club, with local and continental honours.
The Aboderin family members were reported to have hinted that arrangements are on for burial plans.
