Tears, tributes over death of Vanguard entertainment editor, Ogbonna Amadi

Entertainment Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Ogbonna Amadi, dies after an asthma attack on Wednesday.

Christabel Amadi

An outpour of emotions, tributes, and tears, continue to trail the news of the death of the entertainment editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Ogbonna Amadi, who died on Wednesday evening after an asthma attack.

Nigerian celebrities, friends and journalists have taken to social media outlets to pay their last respects.

One of the earliest tributes came from Dele Momodu in a tweet that read, “Ogbonna Amadi, when you asked me to take pictures with you and Cecil Hammond at Davido’s concert, I didn’t realize you were saying goodbye!”

Storm Records boss, Obi Asika, also said, “Please take a minute to say a quiet prayer for the soul of Ogbonna Amadi, entertainment editor of @vanguardnewspapers a real loss may he R.I.P”

Before he died, Mr. Amadi was the group entertainment editor at the Vanguard Newspapers and one of Nigeria’s oldest entertainment writers. His career spanned over two decades.

He was passionate about entertainment and spent his entire career on the beat – gathering news, setting the agenda for the industry, mentoring young reporters, and making sure The Vanguard, where he worked for many years, gave prominence to entertainment.

He was revered in the entertainment circles due to his knack for breaking news and exposing the intricacies of celebrity world. His most recent feat was the exclusive interview with Hadiza, the wife of the touch light wielding singer, Zaaki Adzay following the spousal abuse allegations which the former leveled against the latter.

In an emotion laden post, Toscar Robert, who was the manager of a late artiste, Mc Loph, who died in a fatal motor accident last year said, “Words cannot fathom my shock on hearing of your passage. I begin to wonder if life is worth all the stress we go through. We sleep, wake, eat, work, celebrate, bear off-springs, hustle etc all to no avail of the inevitable…Death. To say I am short of words is an understatement…Bros…we last saw in Ikeja at a press conference and you said..”Ah Toscar the Dada…how you dey naa? No worry someday it will be better”. Bros I feel it is well as it’s only in death can one say one has defeated death as there is nothing else it can do us in that state. Adieu Bros…adieu my media mentor adieu!!!

Robert also acknowledged Mr. Amadi’s support during the death of his artiste, “I recall last year when my dear friend and client Obiajulu Nwaozor a.k.a MC Loph was involved in a ghastly motor accident that claimed his life, he (Mr Amadi) was the first press man to call me and inquire about the details of the car crash and ensured me that he would do anything in his power to ensure that the media would give all support towards the burial arrangements for my dear late friend.”

Ogbonna Amadi, you died yesterday with an unfulfilled dream. But God knows best. Rest in peace, my dear brother.