Inside Nigeria
The sudden death of Idowu Samuel, ex-Tribune Political Editor
…Burial in Ibadan today
BY SEGUN ADEOSUN
The remains of Mr. Idowu Samuel, former Political Editor of the Tribune newspapers, will be buried in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, today. He was 50 years old.
It was raw horror in Abuja, on Monday, as residents of Sun City Estate, Abuja, woke up to find Samuel, a father of three,, stone dead in his home.
A distraught resident told The Crest, on condition of anonymity, that the journalist, who had worked for newsportng.com and newsbreakng.com after his tour of duty in Tribune, had watched the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool, Saturday night and reportedly returned home in high spirit.
Another source informed The Crest that he even called and chatted with a senior colleague on Sunday.
But signs of the impending tragedy allegedly began to unfold Monday morning when nobody sighted the former editor, and calls reportedly made to his cell phone were not answered. Unable to access his apartment, some residents and certain officials of the Abuja Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, reportedly alerted the police who came to remove the body.
The Crest was unable to obtain a copy of the police report, autopsy and death certificate to be able to ascertain the cause of death.
Until his sudden death, Samuel, a thorough-bred journalist and a very likeable fellow, was a pivotal staff of Pro Media Konsult, publishers of newspotng.com., owned by Sir Folu Olamiti, a former Managing Director of Tribune newspapers, and former Resident Consultant, Media and Publicity of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
The source, who expressed utter shock at Samuel’s sudden death, further informed that the disease was not known to have suffered any debilitating disease apart from a slight prostate enlargement which he was said to have intimated a few friends with.
The remains of the late Idowu Samuel were conveyed to Ibadan yesterday for interment today.
He is survived by wife and three young children.
The Crest sympathises with the family of the deceased and pray God to comfort them. May God grant the soul of the departed a sweet repose in his bosom.
It was such a great shock to hear of the demise of Mr. Samuel. He was more than a likeable fellow, he was convivial. He lights up the spirit of people wherever he went and would not let a good opportunity pass you by. He was a complete gentleman and truly altruistic. One must commiserate with his wife and children and pray for them to find the grace to soldier on. Life is hard with two parents, it is bound to be harder with only one parent left. We live, we die! He’s in peace now and may the rest of us find peace at last.