By Amos Aar
THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iorchia Ayu, on Saturday paid condolence visit to the family of the deceased The Guardian newspaper’s Benue State correspondent, Joseph Wantu, at his residence in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Simon Imobo-Tswam, Dr Ayu consoled the deceased’s wife, Mrs Josephine Yemena Wantu, and the entire family to take solace in the fact that God gives and takes life at any time and He will not abandon them.
He advised the children not to deviate from the morals inculcated in them by their late father so that they will be successful in life.
Dr Ayu said the late Wantu will be remembered for exemplifying The Guardian’s tradition.
“The Chairman, Ayu, himself is a journalist. He has practiced and he has stopped. So, anything that happens to a pressman affects him personally. So, even this death is a personal loss to him. He regrets that Benue is losing three of her journalists; Chiahemen just went, the other day it was Terna Doki, today it is Joe Wantu, the other people too. I’m sure before Doki, some others also died! So, he is worried that Benue is losing journalists, senior journalists for that matter!
“So, he sends his condolence message to the family, the Correspondents Chapel and the NUJ. He couldn’t come himself because right now as you read in the papers, he is in Europe. So, he asked me to come and see the family and share his condolences with the family.
“He remembers Wantu as a journalist who exemplified The Guardian tradition of stability, fairness, balanced and factual accuracy. You can’t remember anytime that Joe Wantu was taken to Court. So, in these days of reckless journalism when a lot of things go into the papers unchecked, the Wantu type, we need them more and more in the system. People who are journalists and not businessmen, people who still believe that journalism is a noble profession, that stand as a beacon for society in informing the people, educating the people and when the need arises, entertaining them.
“Whatever that is taking Benue journalist in quick succession, enough is enough!” Imobo-Tswam said.
Mr Imobo-Tswam earlier signed the condolence register in which he wrote: “I have lost a brother and friend. But fare thee well. And may God grant you eternal rest”.
Responding, wife of the deceased, Mrs Josephine Yemena Wantu, appreciated the PDP National Chairman for identifying with Wantu’s family in their trying moment and prayed God to continue to protect and bless him beyond measure.
