Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the death of Dr. Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode who died in the early hours of yesterday
Okowa, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, described Onosode’s death as a great loss to Deltans and Nigerians in general.
He said the late Onosode was a great technocrat, administrator, astute and disciplined politician who engraved his footprints on the sands of time, having served his fatherland meritoriously in different capacities.
While condoling the Urhobo Nation of Delta State , Okowa pointed out that Onosode’s death came at a time when his service , contribution and ideas are most needed.
“We, however, take solace in the fact that the late icon’s sojourn on earth remains a huge blessing to humanity”, the governor declared.
Governor Okowa further regretted that Onosode’s very rich ideas would have come handy in the present socio- economic and political uncertainties in the country.
He prayed God to grant his immediate family, Deltans and his associates the fortitude to bear the loss. He also prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
Also in a condolence message released yesterday, the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, joined millions of Nigerians to mourn the death of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, saying that Pa Onosode was Mr. Integrity that was not opportune to govern Nigeria.
Uduaghan said that Pa Onosode’s death was a big loss to Nigeria and Delta State in particular, whose vacuum would be difficult to fill.
He said that the immediate family and Nigerians in general must take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled and an accomplished life that anyone can be proud of anywhere in the world.
In particular, Dr. Uduaghan said that Pa Onosode was honest, decent and upright all through hence it was easy to run to him for advice whenever the need arose during his tenure as governor.
Uduaghan said that one of Pa Onosode’s princely qualities that was endearing to him was his simplicity even with his influence and power, adding that in spite of his achievements and attainments in life he remained simply “Mr. Onosode or Deacon Onosode” till his death.
“Pa Onosode was a role model, a quintessential father, archetypal elder statesman, a devout Baptist, a patriotic Nigerian, scion of Delta State and a family man to the core”, the former Governor stated
He prayed God to give the immediate family, the Baptist family, his associates, Deltans and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the loss.
Also, the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, has described the late Gamaliel Onosode as a true symbol of integrity, an outstanding patriot and an icon of the best of Nigeria’s national values.
“An iroko in the corporate world has fallen,’’ he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while reacting to yesterday’s passing away of the late former presidential adviser.
He also said Onosode was outstanding in his support for religious activities.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya. said the death of foremost technocrat and boardroom Czar, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, has deprived Nigerians, particularly the people of Delta State of the services of one of the most consistent administrators of this age,adding that “Onosode was a family man that radiated the best of family values” he said.
Igbuya who also described the death of the former chairman of Dunlop Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Zain Nigeria as sad and painful, noted that the boardroom guru proved to Nigerians and the international community that there was everything to gain from being principled.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Henry Ebireri, urged the younger generation of Nigerians to take a cue from the ideals that Onosode lived for- building a better Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, Onosode stood out. He was a rare gem and a visionary leader with the knack for identifying talents. As the head of then NAL merchant bank of Nigeria, he brought together bright young men and women, some of whom are today in top banking position in the country and abroad. As a presidential adviser to President Shagari and a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Management, he demonstrated exceptional administrative prowess.
He urged Onosode’s immediate family and the Urhobo people at home and abroad to take solace in the belief that God’s will is unquestionable and must always prevail,”
“He prays that God Almighty will comfort them all and grant the late boardroom player in Nigeria’s corporate environment’s soul peaceful repose,” Ebireri stated.
“We will certainly miss he former chairman of the Niger Delta Environmental Survey, Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso. We will certainly miss this quiet and unassuming man on so many fronts” the statement added.
In the same development, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan, Prof. Olusegun Ajiboyehas described the late Gamaliel Onasode as an exemplary human and an advocate of excellence.
Ajiboye, who was reacting to the news of the death of Onosode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that he was knowledgeable about everything and a big technocrat of note.
He said that as the former Pro-chancellor and the Chairman governing council of the University of Ibadan, Onasode performed creditably.
“The late Onasode performed creditably for the good and development of his alma mater, through him, a lot of projects were funded in the university.
“He was an exemplary human being who pursued ideas. He made sure that the University of Ibadan got back from its fortune and regained its lost glory,” he said.
Onosode, an Urhobo-born financial consultant was born on May 22 of 1933 in Sapele, a sub-urban city in the current Delta.
He was educated at Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan.
Onosode later emerged in the 1970s as one of Nigeria’s leading educated chief executives, when he was at the helm of affairs at NAL Merchant Bank of Nigeria.
Over the years, he rose to become a leading boardroom player in Nigeria’s corporate environment.
He was a Presidential Adviser to the then President Shehu Shagari and a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management, and chaired several private and public sector businesses and initiatives.
These include Dunlop Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Presidential Commission on Parastatals and Nigeria LNG Working Committee and Nigeria LNG Limited and the Niger Delta Environmental Survey.
Onosode was a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
In addition, Onosode was immediate-past and inaugural President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Uyo.
He holds Honorary D.Sc. degrees of Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
Before his death, he was Chairman of Delta State Think-Tank on Development, Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and Governing Council of Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.(NAN)
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