The creative industry mourns the death of the Special Adviser to President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, AKEEM LASISI writes
Death practically struck the intellectual engine room of the Goodluck Jonathan administration on Thursday as dogged environmentalist and creative thinker, Oronto Douglas, who was the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, passed on.
The deceased, who died of cancer at the age of 49, was the brain behind many of the publications, films, musical and other visual art works that sought to project Jonathan and his government in a positive light.
Among other initiatives, he was the driving force behind Bring Back the Book project of the President, which seeks to revitalise the reading culture and regenerate the publishing sector in the country.
So much was Douglas involved that many stakeholders believe that the failure of his health, with cancer weighing him down especially in the last few years, affected the progress of the BBB and other related ideas. It is therefore not surprising that many members of the creative industry have expressed sadness at Douglas’ departure.
One of the earliest people to mourn him is, however, President Jonathan himself, who along with Vice President Namadi Sambo, have paid the deceased’s family a condolence visit. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan is deeply saddened by the death.
He said, “President Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to the Douglas family the government and people of Bayelsa State on the death of one of their most distinguished sons who served his country, state and the Niger Delta region, passionately and diligently, during his very impactful years on earth.
“Oronto Douglas, who passed away after a protracted battle with cancer, was President Jonathan’s personal aide for close to a decade. The President will always remember him for his passion for work, excellence, inspiring creativity and outstanding commitment to his duties.
“The President remains thankful to God Almighty for the brilliance and resourcefulness Oronto brought to bear on every assignment as a loyal and dutiful aide during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Vice President, Acting President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Jonathan believes that Oronto will remain a shining and worthy example for every young Nigerian who seeks a life of service and achievement.”
While celebrities such as Omoni Oboli and TY Bello have also bid Douglas goodbye, the management of the African Movie Academy has also paid him a tribute. It described him as a very beneficial friend.
AMAA noted in a statement, “AMAA as an award organisation has a long history with Mr Douglas, from his days as the Commissioner of Information in Bayelsa State. He actually mid-wifed AMAA when the then Governor Depriye Alameyesiegha told him to work on our proposal.
“For about 11 years now, we have maintained relationship with this worthy son of Nigeria and environmentalist. The birth of AMAA also marked the beginning of his association with Nollywood, the Nigerian film Industry which Mr. Douglas partnered and worked with till the end.
“AMAA and Nollywood will sorely miss him and President Goodluck Jonathan will also miss one of his trusted aides.”
President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima Egbuka, also said Nigeria had lost ‘the one who was brought to us a solid foundation for greatness.”
She described Douglas as a very good man.
Oronto Douglas is Nigeria’s leading environmental human rights lawyer. He was deputy director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, and has been a visiting lecturer and speaker at community-organised events, international conferences and universities all over the world
Among other landmark responses to the challenges minority groups face in Nigeria, Douglas was a member of the legal team that represented Ken Saro-Wiwa before he was executed by the Sani Abacha administration in November 1995.
He received degrees in law from the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and De Montford, Leicester, England. His articles and speeches featured in books, journals and magazines in Nigeria, Europe and the United States. His book, ‘Where Vultures Feast, Shell, Human Rights, and Oil in the Niger Delta’, was published by Random House.
Up till March 28 when the presidential election was held, Douglas still fought on all fronts to see that Jonathan won. Although he was not as lousy as some of the President’s aides, he always sought to put what he believed to be Jonathan’s achievements in perspectives. One of his Facebook messages underscores this.
He wrote, in ‘On the Pathway of the Good News’, “No matter how much an attempt may be made to stifle positive news and turn the narrative towards the negative the positive still finds a way to soar over the negative just like an eagle will always soar higher than other birds. And despite our challenges the wing of the Nigerian Eagle must not be clipped. It is in fact soaring.
A number of reports evidence this. Last week, in recognition of the marked increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and its positive debt to GDP ratio, the World Bank announced that Nigeria has officially moved from being a low income nation to a middle income nation.
“This is tangible transformation. Days later, the International Monetary Fund scored Nigeria’s economy high and ranked our economy as ‘positive’.
As is commonly said, in the mouth of two witnesses a matter is established. But it did not stop there. Further reports brought awareness that for the first time Nigeria has overtaken South Africa as the number one destination for Foreign Direct Investment.”
No comments:
Post a Comment