The death of Mr Anietie Ben Akpan, publisher of the Calabar based The Pillar Today newspaper, has been described as a terrible loss to his family, the journalism profession in the Niger Delta and the NUJ family in Cross River State.
Dr Alex Egbona, member of the House of Representatives from Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of the state said on Wednesday that he had difficulty believing that Akpan had died when the journalism world was still in need of his services.
Saying that the Association of Niger Delta Online Publishers, ANDOP, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, would miss him sorely, Egbona recalled knowing Akpan when the reporter was working for The Guardian in Calabar.
He said: “A few weeks ago, my attention was drawn to the health condition of Mr Anitie Ben Akpan. I was told he needed financial assistance to enable him go through some urgent medical procedures.
“I did not only assist, I was in a hurry to send the financial assistance. I also reached out to his representative in the National Assembly, who is a close friend. I wanted Anietie to live and continue doing his good works for humanity.
“But two days ago, I got the shocking news that he had passed on. At first, I did not believe it was true. That news made me really sad. He was a good journalist and had paid his dues. This is a huge loss to the NUJ family and to the Association of Niger Delta Online Publishers which he belonged.
“My heart is with his family. I pray that they find comfort in God’s arms. I pray that God will give them the grace to go through this pains. But I can also assure them that they cannot walk alone during this trying times.”
