An edifice to be called “Democracy House” will be built by the Edo State Government and the names of the three journalists who died in an auto crash involving the convoy of the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will be inscribed on it.
The three journalists are Olatunji Jacob of Independent Television, Fidelis Okhani of African Independent Television and George Okosun also of Independent Television.
This was disclosed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City during the lying-in-state of Okosun, a cameraman with ITV, at the Nigeria Union Of Journalists Press Centre.
The two Independent Television journalists, who died in the auto crash, were buried at the weekend amidst tears
Jacobs was laid to rest at Oloma in Akoko Edo Local Government Area while Okosun was buried at Ivue-Uromi, Esan North East Local Government area of Edo State.
As a mark of appreciation of his contributions to the development of Edo State and for upholding the right to know and to be informed, Oshiomhole said Oloma Primary School will be rebuilt to the same standard with others in the state this year.
“To ensure that the three children he left behind attend school to university level, the sum of N5 million will be deposited in a bank account for each of them while the sum of N5 million will be given to the widow for the upkeep of the children,” he disclosed.
According to him, the Edo State Government will stand by the children and they will go to schools of their choice.
Similarly, Oshiomhole described Okosun as the best cameraman in the Government House Press Corps in view of his passion and sense of news coverage.
“We are yet to understand why the driver of the tipper truck left his lane and crashed into the convoy, which led to the death of the three journalists. We are waiting for the police to unravel the ugly development,” he noted.
He disclosed that towards assisting the family of Okosun, N10 million will be paid into a bank account by the state government for the education of his only son and the wife will be given N5 million while the aged parents will get N3 million.
Okhani had earlier been laid to rest in his home town, Iviukwe, Etsako East Local Government Area.
