A former Minister of Information, Mr Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele, has been confirmed dead.
His son, Constantine Akinfolarin Akinyele, on behalf of the family of the Ondo-born public relations specialist announced his death on Thursday.
He said on his facebook page that his father died after a brief illness on Thursday night but did not state where he died.
“With thanksgiving for his life, I am sad to announce we lost our father and grand father Chief Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele earlier today after a brief illness. May his soul rest in peace. He will be missed by his children, grand children, family and friends,” he wrote.
Akinyele, 81, a PR guru after serving as the Minister of Information, later became chairman of the Nigerian Sports Commission.
He was also a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
In 1995, former Nigeria’s military head of state, Sani Abacha, appointed Akinyele as head of a National Reconciliation Committee with the objective of opening dialogue with interest groups in the country to support the democratic transition program of the government. (Daily Post)