THE news of the death of Pini  Jason came from the radio this morning(Sunday morning) and threw me off balance. I was thrown from  the joy of preparations for a communion service in Church, to instant confusion, from preparation for Worship to wondering what life is really about, from assurances from the Word of God, to a confirmation, that we are indeed sojourners in this world.

We are immigrants here, passing through to a place, we can only arrive joyfully through great expectations. Some believe that after death, they may go to Purgatory, others to paradise, many to hell, and many more will go to heaven, because heaven and hell are real and do exist. \

One thing is certain, life on this planet earth is not the end, we are going somewhere unknown to some, but very clear to others, especially the practicing Christians. Bible believers are sure that all their life efforts is to fight the good fight of faith and be able to show themselves approved of God on the judgment day, for it is appointed for man to die once after which there shall be judgment. Our beliefs make our morality which drives our conscience and actions on earth. Pini believed in what he said and wrote with passion and that is why we miss him sorely. Some say the world is a stage, where they are called to act, play a role as assigned by the ‘Director’ and quit, Pini acted only in things and got involved only in issues he believed, and for that reason acted well, no matter who was angry with his role and position in an issue.

His reader did not have to agree with everything he wrote, some may even think he was biased sometimes, but his passion will cause any reader to be compelled to read Pini, and he wrote with a sense of history that made the difference. Many have said and I agree, that he has left a void that may be difficult to fill. His team at Vanguard will feel this more.

With the news from the radio, I announced same in church, and we observed on minute silence in honour of his Soul, and work on this earth, and especially for our nation Nigeria. I called his colleagues and latter read the papers to gather details of what happened.The good thing is that ALL shall die, and be judged.

A prolific writer

Chief  Pini Jason Onyegbadue, a beloved and true son of Imo State, was reported to have died at 65, on Saturday afternoon at Tale Clinic Yaba, Lagos  after undergoing a surgery some days earlier. He  was a prolific writer  who made his name in journalism in the late 70s while working as a freelance journalist.

He later took up a full-time employment at the African Guardian and as well worked for other media outfits, including ThisWeek, where he served as its Managing Editor and then Insider Confidential Newsletter as the Editor-in-Chief. He was also the publisher of the now-rested Examiner Newspaper but became famous when he took up a column for Vanguard. He took a leave of absence in 2007 to work as Special Assistant (Special Duties) to former  Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State.

He returned to writing following the end of Ohakim’s administration in 2011.

Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State, who spoke from the United States, said the death affected him personally.He described late Pini as one of the finest journalists who earned his living through hard work. General Manager, Publication/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, described him as a Nigerian who dreamt excellence and a wholesome regeneration of our nation.

Vanguard Editor, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, said Pini embodied “the best in journalism.”The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in his statement described the late Pini as a ‘very decent man.’  “His attitude to life was always positive. He wrote columns that were set apart by their clarity, thoughtfulness, sound knowledge and commitment to public good. We have lost another true defender of the people’s interests. He will be sorely missed by the Nigerian media family, and particularly his numerous readers.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN, said the death was an irreparable loss. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, has expressed shock on his death and described him as a “gifted writer who used his pen to reform the society in his lifetime and bared his mind on critical issues affecting the polity”.adding that he was “one of the greatest exponents of informed political commentary whose incisive  write-ups charted a better course for the nation”.

“He spoke truth to power and was quite courageous in his campaign for a better society.”and summing up he said Pini’s death is “a big blow to the media industry.” Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has described him  as a consummate writer whose passion for the journalism profession was unmistakable and a source of pride to those who read him every week.Pini, is survived by a wife and several children.

As tributes continue to pour in to his natural, media , and political families, we must not forget that Pini chose to make the difference in his life, by fighting the cause of the good public.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry…..Whatever role, position, or organization our lot in life is, we should strive to give it our best.”

Fame and excellence

Pini gave life and journalism his best, he showed that success for good men is attached to the content of their character and what they give to society. Pini gave good and positive passion for what he believed to Nigerian society. Fame can be trusted upon a man, but excellence must be achieved, Pini achieved excellence, thus we could say today that all he did was wonderful!

A good journalist must and needs to be controversial, Pini had his own fair share of controversy; His last works of note included his exchange with Chief Dele Momodu of Ovation towards the end of last year, where he differed in the criticisms of Malam Lamido Sanusi’s N5000 note called Project CURE, His response to Senator Oluremi Tinunbu Mrs, on her assertion that they (ACN) were progressives, and the APC capsule bit; And his last article published Tuesday April 30, 2013 and  titled,” A letter to Yushau Shuaib”,  on the travails of  the former spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

I wished that he remained to give us commentaries on the 2015 elections as issues hot up, but God, the author and finisher of our life knows best, and why Pini must go at this time.

May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may his family receive the grace and fortitude to bear the loss. We that mourn, shall do more to learn from his life and the choice he made to stand out without fear or fervor to give all his best! We salute him, and give God all the glory.

*Mr Udegbe a lawyer and former Commissioner in Imo State, wrote from Lagos.