Jonathan’s closest aide, Oronto Douglas, is dead
Oronto Douglas, the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on research, documentation and strategy, is dead.
Douglas, who passed on at the State House Clinic, Abuja, at 4;58a.m on Thursday, was aged 49.
According to a statement by the presidential spokesman, Rueben Abati, Douglas died from a terminal ailment, cancer, for which he was being treated for a while. He had from time to time sought treatment abroad for prolonged periods.
Sources further revealed that he had been given a timeline of two weeks to live and had opted to return and join his ancestors in his own country.
Douglas 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 that Oronto brought to bear on every assignment as a loyal and dutiful aide during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State and as 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”, Abati said in the presidents condolence message to the Douglas family and the Niger Delta .
Born 1966, Douglas was described as the president’s most influential and resourceful aide, documenting the president’s achievements, legacies, and helping coordinate parallel media and campaign strategies for the presidency. He was said to be one of those who have the ears of the president.
He was a lawyer and committed environmentalist, commissioner for information in Bayelsa State and a delegate from the state for the 2005 National Political Reform Conference organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
He had come into lime light pushing for improved revenue allocation to the Niger Delta region to alleviate the effect of oil exploration.