LEADERSHIP Correspondent, Egwu, Dies, Yahaya Bello Mourns

LEADERSHIP Correspondent in Kogi State, Mr Sam Egwu is dead. The veteran journalist died in his Lokoja residence on Sunday evening at the age of 68.

Family sources said Egwu was still active until a few hours before his death.

The sources said the deceased was at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) office in Lokoja to monitor the distribution of the permanent voter cards (PVcs) and returned to his house at 2pm.

Egwu reportedly died after a few hours while sitting in front of his house.

Born in 1955, the late Egwu attended St. Charles College, Ankpa and proceeded to Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos.

He worked as a reporter with Hallmark Newspaper, Daily Trust, People’s Daily and LEADERSHIP until his death.

Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has described the death of Egwu as a painful and a great loss.

The governor in a press statement issued by his chief press secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, condoled with the family of the late journalist, the management and staff of the LEADERSHIP Newspaper Group as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the sad development.

Bello also described the late journalist as a man of truth and fairness who practised journalism with professional ethics.

He said that journalism had lost one of its dedicated and upright members, noting that the late Egwu would be remembered for his objectivity, diligence and hard work.

The governor prayed to Almighty God to grant the soul of Egwu eternal rest and members of his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Also, the commissioner for information and communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, expressed shock over the death of Egwu.

Egwu, according to the commissioner, was a seasoned journalist whose immense contributions to the pen profession in Kogi State and beyond cannot be quantified.

Fanwo in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Lokoja described Egwu as a professional with passion.

He said, “I urge the Correspondent Chapel of Kogi State, the Kogi NUJ Council and the body of journalists in general to find comfort in the fact that Elder Sam Egwu (as he was fondly called) used his pen to create a positive change in the society.”