Former Vice-President, , has mourned the0 death of a pioneer member of his media team, Mr Ifeanyi Izeze.

The Atiku Media Office announced Izeze’s passing in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, describing him as a valued member of the former vice-president’s media team.

According to the statement, Izeze joined Atiku’s media team in 2006 from the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, where he worked as Office Manager.

The media office noted that he brought extensive experience in journalism, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to the team during a critical period in Atiku’s political career.

It added that Izeze studied Geology up to the postgraduate level at the but later built a career in journalism, reporting extensively on the oil and gas sector.

Before joining ALSCON, he worked with several newspapers, including the now-defunct Sunray, Anchor and NewAge titles.

“In the Atiku Media Office, Ifeanyi was a senior member of the team and its pioneer Office Manager who helped shape the campaign policies of the Atiku Presidential Campaigns in the Niger Delta, particularly in the oil and gas sectors,” the statement said.

The office also described the late media aide as a man with a strong sense of humour and a devout Christian of the .

It added that Izeze was also an ordained preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ under the .

The statement noted that the deceased would be greatly missed by colleagues, friends and family members.

Izeze is survived by his children, grandchildren and his elder brother, Pastor , a former editor and media executive associated with The Guardian Newspapers.

The family is expected to announce details of his burial later.