Nollywood Stars Mourn Oronto Douglas

Peace Anyiam, Kunle Afolayan, Segun Arinze, Okey Bakassi others pay tribute 

Following the news of the death of Jonathan's Aide, Oronto Douglas today Thursday, April 9 the Nigerian movie industry has been thrown into a state of mourning. Since the news broke this morning, tributes have continued to pour in from Nollywood stars most of whom described the late Oronto as an activist and a bridge between entertainment industry and the presidency.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas was said to have died from cancer-related complications.

He reportedly passed on at the State House Clinic in Abuja.

Report by Mercy Michael

His footprint will never be lost...-Peace Anyiam

Founder of African Movie Academy Award, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, "Oronto was an activist and a loyalist to the core his journey on earth may have ended but his footprints will never be lost as a founding member of AMAA. Oronto will never be forgotten. May soul his rest in Peace".

In separate statement that was released by the AMAA Boss, it reads:

AMAA MOURNS ORONTO DOUGLAS.

On behalf of the management and Staff of the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, I join the family and friends of Late Mr. Oronto Douglas, Special Adviser to the President on Research, Strategy and Documentation, whose sad demise from mother earth happened early morning today Thursday April 10th, 2015.

AMAA as an award organisation has a long history with Mr. Oronto Douglas from his days as the Commissioner of Information in Bayelsa State. He actually midwifed AMAA when the then Governor Depriye Alameyesiegha told him to work on our proposal. 

For about 11 years now we have maintained our relationship with this worthy son of Nigeria and environmentalist. The birth of AMAA  also marked the beginning of his association with Nollywood, the Nigerian film Industry which Mr. Douglas has partnered and worked with till date.

AMAA and Nollywood will sorely miss him and President Goodluck Jonathan will also miss one of his trusted aides.

We wish his family, friends and close associates the fortitude and grace to bear this irreparable loss.

Signed

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe
Founder, AMAA

 He was a good man- Kunle Afolayan

"I feel very sad because really I think he's a good man and I think he has done a lot to support the entertainment industry. The few encounters I've had with him, I perceive a very genuine mind and a good man. That is all I know about him. May his soul rest in peace". 

He was an activist, a very hard working an intelligent man- Okey Bakassi

"His days at the River state University of Science and Technology, he was an activist, a campus journalist, a very hard working and intelligent man. It was not a surprise to me when he rose to become Special Adviser to the president.

He was a hard worker and a good friend of Nollywood. Most people don't know why Nollywood was very sympathetic to Jonathan. Jonathan did a lot for Nollywood and people like Oronto was among the facilitators. Those are the things I can say about him".

It's so sad we've lost a friend of the industry - Segun Arinze

He was an amiable person you couldn't help but like him. He was a great lover of the art and a great writer. He was a member of the association of Nigerian authors (ANA) and he was also a lawyer.

He loved the art and one of the reasons Jonathan was so passionate about the art was because of Oronto's involvement in it. And I know that he was also part of those who made sure AMAA (African Movie Academy Award) came to Bayelsa. He was one of those that supported it. I think he was a Commissioner then. A was a lover of art.

On a personal level he will take his time to listen to you and find a way of getting solution to your problem. He will never ruffle with anything, no matter how much you panic he will tell you relax, we will find a way to sort it out. He was that kind of person. So his death really came to me as a shock. It's so sad we've lost a friend of the industry. All the notable stars worked with him and we found him very, very amiable, a very dependable person that you could call on. He was a brother, he was a friend. It's so sad to me personally. It is a personal loss".

It's a great loss for Nollywood- Bob Manuel Udokwu

"I was totally shocked. It was totally unexpected.                                  

He was more like a bridge between the entertainment industry and the presidency and this helped a lot to facilitate things in the industry, that recognition by the government.

Personally, I feel that this is the time, Nigeria is at a very crucial stage of its political and national development, this is a time when we need a man of such experience to be part of the midwifery into the next administration and also play the role of elder, adviser, guiding us younger people in entertainment on how we can also develop further. So to me, it's a great lose. I only pray God to give the family and all of us the grace to bear the loss. 

It's very sad- Stephanie Okereke-Linus