RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER PETER OBE BURIED AMID EULOGIES IN ONDO

THE remains of ace photographer/journalist Peter Oyeyemi Obe known in Press circles as “Mr. Exclusive” was yesterday committed to mother earth in his Country home Igbara-Oke, Ondo state amid eulogizes.Late Peter Obe who was aged 83 was born on December 28, 1932 and died on September 1st this year.Hundreds of people from his Country home and outside the state trooped to the St Paul’s Anglican Church yesterday venue of the funeral service to bid him farewell.

His wife Janet Mopelola and children Olufemi, Oyedolapo, Folake, olugboyega and Afolabi were present during the funeral service.In his sermon, the Vicar of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Venerable Sunday Adetiba said “Mr Exclusive   will always be remebered for his professionalism and unparalleled love for photography”.Ven. Adetiba who preached from 11 Samuel 1-27 likened Peter Obe to a Mighty man who has fallen and his weapon (camera) fallen as well.

The Clergyman appealed to the children of the deceased to always identify with their father’s home town Igbara-Oke and should make it a duty to help in the development of the town.He decried a situation where children of active personalities in the town would bid the town bye-bye after the demise of their parents.

The traditional ruler of the town Oba J A Adepoju who was the deceased School mate in his condolence message said the Children should build on the good legacies left by their late father.The Deji of Akureland Oba Adebiyi Adesida was also represented at the service.

The late Peter Obe started his photographic journey when he joined the then Daily Times in 1953 as a Press Photographer and at the same time a freelance Photographer for the Agence France Press AFP and Reuters.He earned the nickname Mr Exclusive for his various dramatic pictures. His collections of Photographs during the civil war were compilled in a book titled “ Nigeria, Decade of crises in pictures in 1971.

In 1986, he published another book titled “ Nigeria, 2nd Civil Rule and the Military Rescue in Pictures.Former President Obasanjo had in the forwrd of the second book descibed the late Peter Obe as “ a great and distinguished Nigerian Photographer.”