NEWS INSIGHT Prolific Nigerian Journalist Ely Obasi is dead.... Special to USAfrica The Newspaper & USAfrica ONLINE June 30, 1997 The body of Ely Obasi, former Editor of The Sunday Magazine (TSM), Lagos Nigeria who died in Indianapolis, United States on Friday June 27, 1997 will be flown to Nigeria on July 8. First word of his death was announced Saturday morning June 28 to USAfrica's founder by Okey Ndibe, former editor of The Guardian magazine Lagos and African Commentary. Also, Stanley Ogunedo, New York-based media consultant and former writer in Lagos sent additional information informing the community "his family is making efforts to fly his remains back to Nigeria for burial on July 8. Given the prohibitive cost of this undertaking, they have requested help from all who care." Ogunedo adds "towards this end, some friends of his in New York are organizing a quick drive for funds. We hereby appeal for your assistance in this regard." USAfrica confirms that given the urgent, tasking financial challenge for his family to send the body of this departed patriot, fertile mind, creative and lyrical writer of the famous columns 'Ticker Tapes' and only 2 months ago, 'View From Indiana' for USAfrica The Newspaper (his USAfrica column on Foreign Exchanges & the Commodities Market appears below this announcement), we add our voice to the REQUEST to send funds to his family before 5pm NY (EST)Time on Thursday July 3. (Later funds sent will be given to his family) All cheques are payable to : African Legacy Inc., 808 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY11221 Additional information may be received from Mr. Ogunedo at 718-574-9452 Here are a few letters between late Ely Obasi & USAfrica's Founder & Publisher Chido Nwangwu leading up to Ely's column, VIEW FROM INDIANA for USAfrica The Newspaper. Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 13:39:57 -0600 To: Ely Obasi (hurricane97@hotmail.com) From: USAfrica (publisher@usafricaonline.com) Subject: Ely, glad to know you're here! My dear Ely: I was delighted to read your post on the 'net. Let me know where you (are). I'm Ken Orji's nephew. He introduced you to me (in Lagos). Also visit our web site. Let me know if you'll be interested in writing a column for USAfrica The Newspaper. With fraternal good wishes Chido Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 21:31:50 -0800 (PST) X-Originating-IP: [139.102.18.65] From: "Ely Obasi" (hurricane97@hotmail.com) To: publisher@usafricaonline.com Subject: Re: Ely, glad to know you're here! Chido hi, Thanks a lot for your mail. I'm glad you wrote. I didn't know you were related to Ken (Orji). Maybe I missed something. Bear with me. Where is he now? Still at Diamond Bank? How is he doing, with all the wahala in Nigeria's banking sector? Please fill me in. Does he visit the US often. I see Pascal Dozie is fully occupied with the stock exchange these days. Who is running the bank right now? Let me know what kind of materials you would like. I have quite a few things cooking right now. Hope to hear from you soonest. Regards. Ely Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 13:33:31 -0800 (PST) X-Originating-IP: [139.102.18.65] From: "Ely Obasi" (hurricane97@hotmail.com) To: publisher@usafricaonline.com Subject: Article for publication My dear Chido, Thanks for your mail. I will be looking out for the copies. Here's an article I think you might want to use.... It is a sophisticated product which has just arrived in Nigeria for the first time. And I do know that it will change the lives of people in both good and bad ways. One of my fears is that our people here and at home, individuals and financial institutions, as well as corporate bodies, are going to start speculating with it, because of the luring possibilities of very high profit. But the disaster can be staggering. I strongly believe that the sooner we begin to talk about it, the better it will be in the long run. It is fairly long so you may wish to edit it to fit your space. I believe also that it will help with corporate profile and therefore with the financial advertisers. Give it a read. I will be glad if you can e-mail me soon to say what you think. Regards. Ely Back to: News Index, or USAfrica Homepage