- Safiu Kehinde
A popular Nigerian editorial cartoonist Mr. Obe Popularly called Obe-Ess has died.
The news of his death was broken on a platform My Tori, run by his brother and media entrepreneur Taiwo Obe Monday morning.
Obe-Ess who spent several decades at The Guardian newspaper was a major cartoonist who used his works to make commentaries on issues of politics, economy and the society at large.
One of the early responders to the news Information Commissioner in Lagos Gbenga Omotoso described the late Obe-Ess as a deep thinker who used his works to contribute to the society.
Omotoso wrote, “Ah! May The Almighty bless his soul and console all his loved ones – in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
“Obe Ess was a damn good cartoonist whose conversational style was captivating, full of repartee and bone cracking humour. He was simple, neat and warm – always. O ma se o. TO, please stay strong.”
A former member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, Uthman Shodipe while commenting on the death of Obe-Ess, wrote,
“What a loss ! He was a restless, inventive artist whose cartoons still chastise the widening malady in our society. He worked quietly but without losing his pace or focus, determined that in his little corner of satirical artistry he could provoke a better world.”
After spending many years at The Guardian Newspaper, Obe-Ess retired into private practice producing cartoons for interested publications.
Details of his death were still sketchy as at the time of filing this report.
More details later…