PETER’S DEATH, A BIG LOSS TO THE PRESIDENT, MEDIA DEPARTMENT- PRESIDENCY

The Presidency on Monday described the death of Mr Peter Chukwuemeka Onwubuariri, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations in the Presidential Villa, as a big loss to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Department of Media and Public Relations in the Presidential Villa.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this when he led a delegation of Presidential Media Aides including Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Special Duties, Senior Special Assistant on Public Engagement, Fredrick Nwabufo and members of the department, on a condolence visit to the family of the late Peter Onwubuariri in Abuja.

Onanuga expressed deep sympathy to the family, describing the deceased as a hardworking, dedicated and dependable professional who contributed immensely to the work of the Media Department and the effective communication of government activities.

“ We are here to condole with the deceased’s family. Peter’s death is a big loss to the department, even to the President of Nigeria, and that is why a statement was issued to that effect. His death has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. I remember Peter at times played the role of MC at Presidential events and he was very good at that; a professional per excellence, he was a very good writer. His death is a big loss to the entire department and we are going to miss him very much,” Onanuga said.

He assured the family that the Presidency would continue to identify with them at this difficult period and provide the necessary support as they mourn the deceased.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Mr Tunde Rahman, described Peter Onwubuariri as a consummate professional who put a lot into his public service career.

Rahman said the deceased distinguished himself through professionalism, diligence and commitment to duty, adding that his contribution to the Presidential Media team would not be forgotten.

“Peter was like a friend to me; I know him as a workaholic. There was never a time that we gave him an assignment that it does not turn out excellent. That was the kind of quality and calibre of a staff that Peter was. I was not surprised that he fell in love with the job because he derived so much satisfaction being a media person.

“In him, we had an editor in the Media and Publicity Department, and like I said earlier, while I spoke, the message and lesson I derive from this is to use the occasion to remind media personnel to prioritise their health while on the job,” Rahman said.

Also speaking, Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Bauhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, expressed shock on the passing of Mr Onwubuariri, describing him as a dependable partner and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mrs Amarachi Nwanguma, elder sister to the deceased, expressed gratitude to the Presidential Media team for the show of love, solidarity, and support, especially the President`s condolence message which was aired on the news.

She said, that the family would communicate with the Presidency in their consultations towards the burial as soon as the arrangement is concluded.

On her part, the eldest child of the deceased, Miss Adaora Chukwuemeka Onwubuariri, a Computer Science undergraduate, also thanked the team for their fatherly role.

“ I am just grateful to everybody here, today, I think I learned the true meaning of the saying that no man is an island; I am very grateful for his bosses, colleagues, his friends who have been there for us throughout this past year.

“I am very grateful, and I have truly learned that my father was a very good man. I have always known that but today is a confirmation,” she said.

Abiodun Oladunjoye
Director, Information & Public Relations
State House, Abuja
September 14, 2026

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga signing the condolence register during his visit to the family of the late journalist in the Media and Publicity Department of the State House, Mr. Peter Onwubuariri at his residence in Abuja, on Monday, 14th September, 2026

From Left: Fredrick Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, Tunde Rahman Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Amarachi Nwanguma, sister of Peter Onwubuariri, Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Catherine Onwubuariri, wife of the deceased, Adaora Onwubuariri, daughter of the deceased, Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Media, and Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information and Public Relations, State House during the condolence visit to the family of Peter Onwuaburiri on Monday, September 14, 2026