Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday described the death of Prof. Tekena Tamuno, as a great loss to the Tamuno family of Okrika in particular and the nation in general.

This is contained in a condolence letter to late Tamuno’s wife, Amuno, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo, who said he received the news of Tamuno’s death with sadness, said: “I was sad because we will miss his contributions to the building of a new Nigeria of his dream; but I am grateful to God for such a life well spent in the service of our fatherland.’’

“Your late husband was somebody I knew very well; in the days of my being appointed as distinguished fellow of the University of Ibadan (UI) in the Institute of African Studies after I left public office as a military Head of State .

“Also, in the days I used to host the Farm House Dialogue on a number of subjects of national, sub-regional and international interest, Prof. Tamuno was a regular participant in the company of Professors Akin Mabogunje, Adebayo Adedeji and host of other personalities.

“I always found his contributions incisive, profound and authentic and he was quite a warm, receptive and homely personality, soft-spoken and generous with his smile.

“Prof. Tamuno was one of the very few who can be said  that their lives brought a blessing to their generation.

“His most inspiring life and career as a celebrated historian and a respected publisher were well acknowledged.

“He was by all standards an illustrious Nigerian, who during his lifetime made contributions to the development of the major national institutions with which he was associated, among which were the University of Ibadan and The Bells University of Technology.

“The late Professor was a leading figure in African History, judging from the seminal calibre and pioneering nature of his work as well as the exceptional quality of students who passed through his hand.

“He worked closely with me between 1999 and 2007 as Chairman of The Presidential Advisory Panel on National Security, a Panel set up to look into the whole issue of security of the nation.

“He also worked as Chairman of Okrika Community Peace Committee, mandated to ensure peace in the region.

“As Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Bells University of Technology, it tremendously experienced growth, credibility, and even wider acceptability among stakeholders under his able and effective leadership.

“We would have wished that he is still alive to continue with us on the Nigerian project but the cold hand of death has snatched him away,” he said.

The former president prayed Almighty God comfort all who mourned Tamuno and grant his soul eternal rest.

Tamuno was a Vice Chancellor of the UI