*By David Uka, Abakaliki*
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has floated an educational foundation for the children of slain Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ebonyi council, Mr Samuel Nweke.
Umahi, who made the announcement during a condolence visit to the deceased’s family in Abakaliki, said this is to ensure that the education of his three children is not hampered or stopped.
Recall that late Mr Nweke was killed by highway robbers who had attacked him and other state’s NUJ delegates at Nkalagu, Ebonyi state while returning from national delegates conference in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
“We would take care of his family as his wife would be given N1 million to establish a business venture and also be appointed a technical assistant to the governor after his burial. Umahi said.
“The sum of N500, 000 each would be given to his father and mother while the commissioner for works would be responsible for the payment of his house rent.
“The commissioner would also save funds to purchase a Sienna car for his wife to use in conveying his children to school as Nweke would not had loved to leave his children,” he said.
The governor noted that Nweke’s death was painful because the journalists, who were attacked were urged to stay in Awka when they arrived at the town from Abeokuta at night.
He commended the state commissioner for information and culture for directing the temporary suspension of operations at the state broadcasting corporation where Nweke worked, for 24 hours.
“Though he did not seek authority from me on such directive, I am happy because it showed that Sam lived a good life.
“I enjoin journalists and others here to live good lives because if he was a dubious person, the corporation would not have accorded him such honour.
“It is also not everybody that the governor and his entourage would visit the family in times of death, if he had been a dubious person, I would not have been here,” he said.
He also warned the citizens on the dangers of embarking on night journeys, noting that even as a governor, he was always apprehensive of embarking on night journeys.
According to him, hoodlums might in some cases, be more sophisticatedly equipped than convoys and even if I am protected, any loss of life at such periods would had been unnecessary
Umahi also visited the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) and commiserated with the two journalists wounded by the hoodlums in the incident.
“The government would offset their hospital bills and donate N500, 000 each to their families for their medical upkeep.
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