Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has condoled with journalists in the state and the management of The Nation Newspapers over the death of Mr Kunle Johnson.

Johnson was until his death the Cross River State Correspondent and Bureau Chief of The Nation Newspapers.

In a statement signed by the governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Omini Oden, Imoke said Johnson was an experienced and conscientious journalist who practised with a sense of excellence.

He said Johnson’s dedication to the profession was underscored by his meticulous attention to details, bias for investigative backgrounders and urbane writing style.

Imoke also recalled Johnson’s insightful and punchy questions during media briefings and most of all his sense of humour.

Imoke said the deceased was one of a few versatile journalists whose career cut across the two major genres of the electronic and print media.

“It is heart-warming to know that Mr Kunle Johnson lived up to the existing promise of a career he started at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in 1978.’’

The governor, who extended his condolence to The Nation and the family of the deceased, added that they should be consoled by Johnson’s professionalism and acts of noble service to journalism and humanity.

Similarly, the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Cross River, Mrs Imah Adegoke, described the death of Johnson as shocking.

Adegoke stated this when she paid a condolence visit to the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Calabar.

She said that the death of the veteran journalist left a vacuum in the union and urged journalists in Cross River to bear the irreparable loss.

The LP candidate said that her visit was to further demonstrate her partnership and cooperation with journalists.

In his response, the Chairman of NUJ Cross River Council, Mr Eniang Ndem thanked Adegoke for the visit, describing her as a mother.

“Your visit has really proved that you are a mother and not a politician who is only interested in power.’’

Eniang pledged the cooperation of the council in the coverage of her activities during the campaign for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

“As has been our practice, we will continue to give all candidates equal coverage irrespective of the political party they belong.’’

Johnson, 61, died on Oct. 1 at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital after a brief illness.

Johnson, popularly called KJ by friends and colleagues, hailed from Ilesha, Osun, and was a one-time Vice Chairman of the NUJ in Cross River.

He started his journalism career at FRCN, Ibadan in 1978, served as FRCN correspondent in Cross River before working for the Third Eye, Monitor and Comet newspapers at different times.

The burial arrangements announced by the family indicated that the body would leave the Anatomy Department of the UCTH for a brief lying-in-state at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar, on Oct. 14 before departure to Ibadan.

According to the statement endorsed by his sister, Mrs Yeyekemi Oshoro, on behalf of the family, internment will take place in Ibadan on Oct. 21.

Johnson is survived by an aged mother, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunties, professional colleagues and other relations.