Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has expressed shock at the death of three officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in a road crash which occurred in Osu, near Ilesa in Osun State.

 

The Governor in his condolence message on Saturday described the death of the journalists as a  "big tragedy which cut short the lives of patriots who were on active service to their fatherland".The journalists who died in the Osu crash were Adolphus Okonkwo,   NUJ National Financial Secretary; Tunde Oluwanaike, Chairman of the Radio Nigeria Ibadan Network Chapel and Kafayat Odunsi of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Tejuosho, Lagos.

 Dr. Fayemi said the untimely death of the NUJ chiefs has cast a thick pall of mourning on the media and all lovers of vibrant journalism and free press which contributed immensely to the democracy being enjoyed in the country.He prayed God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude and courage to bear the great and monumental loss of their loved ones.

 The Governor bemoaned the fact that this incident has robbed the nation of committed, hardworking, articulate and sound media professionals whose experience would be needed in the evolution of a greater nation all Nigerians envisage.He regretted that the death of the journalists occurred at a time the nation was yet to recover from the demise of media icon, Alhaji Alade Odunewu who passed on few days ago.

 The Governor urged journalists in the country not to allow the tragedy to dampen their morale in the discharge of their onerous duties of informing and educating the populace.Governor Fayemi also used the opportunity the call on the concerned authorities to ensure good insurance package for journalists in view of the hazards associated with the media profession.

 

He said, "The media profession is very risky and full of hazards hence the need for solid insurance package for journalists in the country."On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State I commiserate with the families, friends and associates of the deceased and may we not witness this kind of tragedy again.