The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State Council has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello and other well-meaning individuals to help save the life of the wife of a Vanguard Correspondent in the state, Mrs Bolu Obahopo, who is in critical condition following an accident along Kabba Okene road.
Mrs Obahopo was involved in a ghastly motor accident on Friday 5th November 2021, which left five other members of the family dead and others critically injured.
The State NUJ Chairman, Adeiza Momohjimoh at a press conference said the sum of N5m is needed to carry out surgery and other post-treatment on the accident victim.
Adeiza appealed to the National Assembly to put in place an insurance policy for working Journalists, describing the situation of Mrs Obahopo as a cause for concern.
He called on the federal government to work towards fixing bad roads in the state, adding that the accident was occasion was caused by the bad state of the roads.
While expressing dismay that the Federal roads passing through Kogi State have been left abandoned, Adeiza called on the government to do the needful to avert further loss of lives in the state.
The NUJ Chairman lamented that working Journalists have been turned to beggars, calling on the Vanguard newspapers and other media owners to make welfare a priority for their reporters.
His words, “We want to passionately appeal to the Kogi State government and by extension, governor Yahaya Bello to please come to the aid of this journalist who for over a decade now been reporting the activities of Kogi State.
” The recent unfortunate happenings to journalists in the country have brought to the fore the need for insurance cover for journalists and members of their immediate families. The national assembly should as a matter of urgency, come up with laws that will ensure that journalists get insurance cover that will be able to take care of their families in the event that they suffer permanent disability in the course of their duty.
“Proprietors of media houses are also called upon to make the 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 Vanguard House of Representatives correspondent who went missing for days and was later found dead. It is our hope that the security agencies do more investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his unfortunate death”.
The Chairman called for donations to the family to support Mrs Obahopo’s medical bills.
He thanked journalists in the state and some government officials for standing up for the Vanguard Correspondent when it mattered the most, adding that much more is needed to save her life.