By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State Council,has appealed to Kogi State government to come to the aid of the State correspondent of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr.Boluwaji Obahopo whose wife, child and other family members were involved in ghastly crash on the way to Benin for a marriage ceremony.
The State Chairman of the Council, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh,who made the appeal on Monday in Lokoja While addressing journalists in Lokoja, said the news conference was called to address a serious matter “affecting one of our members”.
Momohjimoh recalled that on Friday 5th of November, 2021, the union bus conveying some family members of Mr Obahopo and other passengers was involved in an autocrash on Okene-Kabba enroute Benin for wedding, adding that the accident claimed 5 lives, leaving others, including Mrs Obahopo with life threatening injuries.
“As at today, the wife of the Vanguard correspondent has been referred to Abuja hospital because of her critical condition.
“A whopping sum of N2.5 million is required to perform urgent surgery on her to stop further damage to her system while another N2.5 million would be required for the post surgery expenses for recovery .
“It is on this note that the Union is calling on the state government and other public spirited individuals to please come to the aid of this distressed family by way of financial assistance.
“We wish to acknowledge the initial financial assistance given by some political office holders when the accident happened but what was realised has since gone into the preliminary treatment at the Okene General hospital, FMC, Lokoja and University Teaching hospital Gwgwalada before the real bill for the surgery came out.
“Donations can please be channeled into this account: Acct Name: Boluwaji Obahopo, Bank Name: UBA, Acct Number: 2034447686
“We want to passionately appeal to the Kogi State government and by extension, Governor Yahaya Bello, to please come to aid of this journalist who for over a decade now been reporting the activities of Kogi state,” he stressed
The Chairman, however,noted that the recent unfortunate happenings to journalists in the country had brought to the fore, the need for insurance cover for journalists and members of their immediate families.
He, therefore,appealed to the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency, come up with laws that would ensure that journalists get insurance cover that woukd be able to take care of their families in the event of permanent disability in the course of their duty.
Momohjimoh also appealed to proprietors of media Houses to make welfare of their staff top priority, through prompt payment of salaries, provision of health insurance and other incentives needed for them to function well.
“Enough of the pauperization of journalists in this country. We must not be cap in hand, begging for alms for any reason.
“The NUJ Kogi State council also wish to join the national Secretariat and other councils to condemn, in strongest terms,the controversial circumstances surrounding the death of Henry Tordue Salem, the Vanguard House of Representatives correspondent who went missing for days and was later found dead.
” It is our hope that the security agencies will do more investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death,” he added.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
Correspondent in Lokoja.
