Tears Flow As FCT NUJ Mourns, Calls For Prayers

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Tears are still flowing in torrents as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) mourns the untimely death of three members of the Union.

In expressing profound sadness over the unfortunate incidents, the Council described the loss of Grace Nwodo (Madam Waka); Chris Edoga; and Olajide Fashikun, as “unnerving, worrying and calls for prayers.”

A statement signed by the NUJ Secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu in Abuja, quoted the Council Chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche, as saying the deaths have left huge vacuums that will be difficult to fill in the Union.

“The deaths are troubling and leave profound sadness. I condole with our colleagues and the families of the deceased. At a time such as this, I urge all of us to be prayerful and take our personal health and security seriously especially as the general elections draw closer,” the statement said.  

Grace Nwodo, popularly called; ‘MADAM WAKA’, until her death in an auto crash last month, was a staff of Multimesh Broadcasting Company (MBC), owners of Love FM 104.5 & Crowther Radio and anchor of the popular ‘MADAM WAKA’ on the station.

Late Edoga, was a sports reporter with Federal Radio of Nigeria (FRCN). He was attacked in his home in Gwagwalada, FCT, just few hours after leaving office last Tuesday and later died in the hospital on Friday.

Fashikun, aka ‘Uncle Fash’ reportedly died on Sunday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja. A sports writer and athlete, Fashikun was the publisher of GongNews, an online newspaper.

The statement explained that the Council will announce a date for service of songs for the deceased at the next congress.

Meanwhile, the Council held a Service of Songs for late Jide Fashikun on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at the NUJ Secretariat, Utako District at 4.00pm with his corpse to be conveyed home for burial on Wednesday, January 30, 2019