Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, this evening led tributes to ace journalist, author and newspaper manager, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, 58, who was hit and killed by a careless driver while jogging this morning in his Okota residential area in Lagos.

Jonathan “received with shock, the sad news of the untimely death of Mr. Dimgba Igwe, Vice Chairman of The Sun newspapers,” Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati said in a statement in Abuja.

“On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends heartfelt commiserations to the publishers of The Sun newspapers, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and all friends and associates of Mr. Igwe, for whom his unexpected death must be exceedingly painful. President Jonathan believes that the late Mr. Igwe will always be remembered as a hardworking and dependable professional, who, through his various writings as columnist, author and public speaker, demonstrated a special ability to convey the truth and his convictions in lucid, compelling prose, and in a style that was shorn of cant and foppery,” Abati said.

He added: “As they mourn him, the President enjoins Mr. Igwe’s family, friends and associates to be consoled by the knowledge that he put his God-given abilities to the best possible use in a very purposeful life that was wholly devoted to the defence of truth and the public interest, as well as the promotion of the highest standards of his chosen profession of journalism.

“President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of the very forthright journalist and media administrator, and also grant his soul, peaceful repose.”

•Photo shows late Dimgba Igwe.