Tinubu Mourns Peter Onwubuariri, Media Aide Who Served Three Presidents

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Peter Onwubuariri, Assistant Director of Media at the Presidential Villa, describing his passing as a painful loss to the Presidency, the media community and Nigeria.

Onwubuariri, a veteran journalist and former staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria, died on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 48.

The journalist was posted from NAN to the Presidential Villa in 2014, where he subsequently served in the media teams of three successive presidents — Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu.

In his condolence message, Tinubu described Onwubuariri as a dedicated journalist and committed public servant whose professionalism and calm disposition earned him the respect of colleagues and associates.

The President said the deceased’s years of service across three administrations demonstrated his competence, integrity and commitment to national service.

Tinubu noted that Onwubuariri covered several important national and international issues during his career, including foreign affairs, telecommunications, politics and finance. He also praised his sound judgment and understanding of the relationship between government and the media.

Before his posting to the Presidential Villa, Onwubuariri rose through the ranks at NAN, where he served as an Assistant Editor-in-Chief and contributed significantly to the agency’s journalism and editorial operations.

The President said Onwubuariri would be remembered for his diligence, experience and contributions to journalism and public service.

Tinubu extended his condolences to the deceased’s wife, Catherine, his three children, extended family, colleagues and friends, praying that God would grant them strength to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.

Onwubuariri died in Kano following a prolonged illness. His remains were released from the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Tuesday for onward transportation to Owerri, Imo State, where he is expected to be buried.

The death has also prompted condolences from Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who described Onwubuariri as a professional who made valuable contributions to presidential communication and public information.

His career at the Presidential Villa spanned more than a decade and three administrations, making him one of the experienced media professionals to have worked continuously within the Presidency across different political administrations.

His death leaves a notable gap in the Presidential media establishment and Nigerian journalism community.