Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Saturday described the death of three journalists in an automobile accident on Ilesa-Ife road as unfortunate, shocking and devastating.
In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, in Ilorin, the governor said “the death of the journalists while pursuing enhanced welfare for their colleagues has yet denied Nigeria their services.’’
The three journalists from Lagos and Oyo State councils of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were returning from Abuja when the accident occurred.
Ahmed described the late journalists as “vibrant Nigerians who could have made meaningful contributions to the national process of promoting freedom of speech and democratic values in the country through the pen.’’
The governor noted that the death of the journalists had again brought to the front burner the issue of insurance policies for working journalists in view of the hazardous nature of their vocation.
He, therefore, urged employers of journalists, whether in the private or public sector, to take a cue from the Kwara State Government and insure all journalists in their employment.
“It was in recognition of the place of journalists in national development that my administration paid the insurance premium of all journalists working in the state,” the governor said
He added that the government did the insurance irrespective of the journalists’ states of origin or the nature of their employment.
He prayed God to give the family and the journalists’ fraternity the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
