Chukwuma Onuekwusi, the State House correspondent for Channel Television is dead. He was aged 55 years.
He passed away Tuesday morning at a private hospital in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, according to a statement by the Management of Channels Television.
The Late Chukwuma a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, joined Channels in 1998 and covered several beats before he was posted to State House.
Even though his employers did not disclose the source of his death, it is believed the well-travelled broadcaster died of kidney related sickness.
Some of his colleague to social media to mourn his death.
Olanekan Adetayo of Punch wrote, “I have lost a colleague, friend, and brother. Chukwuma Onuekwusi was a good man. He went beyond being a colleague on the beat, he qualified to be called a friend indeed. He was always calling me, “My friend, Olalekan” and I always responded by saying ‘Chukwu, Chukwu, Chukwu’.”
“He was a very hardworking man, one of the attributes that attracted him to me. He was always holding the Channels Television-branded microphone as if his life depended on it. He did that to the point that we joined some people who paid homage to former President Jonathan on a Christmas Day and the former President could not hide his feeling. ‘You are still holding this your thing today again’, Jonathan said, referring to Chukwuma and his trademark microphone.
“I met Chukwuma closely for the first time a few minutes before I got my accreditation to the villa a few years back. We met at the FirstBank in CBD Abuja. There was a long queue and people were impatient. An elderly man took on a young Bank teller who he felt was too slow and called him ‘Baba Go Slow’. Chukwuma turned back and corrected the man politely. ‘That is not fair sir’.”
Juliana Obalonye, the state house correspondent of The Sun, wrote: “My brother and friend, a thorough professional to the core and a lover of God. To say I’m pained by your death is an understatement. You did assure you will stand up from that sick bed and we will join you for thanksgiving.
“But we are consoled by this scripture, therefore, we do not mourn like those without hope.
“Rest In Peace my brother, I will miss you sourly!”
The late Chukwuma started his career at Imo Broadcasting Corporation(IBC), Owerri.
He Survived by his wife and Children.