By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the death of a reporter of the Vanguard newspapers covering the House, Mr Tordue Salem.
This was just as the Minority caucus urged the police to leave no stone unturned in addressing all conflicting issues related to the disappearance and death of the journalist.
The Speaker said it was more painful that Salem, whom he described as a vibrant and committed journalist, went missing for almost a month before his corpse was discovered at a morgue in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila recalled how Salem distinguished himself as one of the finest journalists that provided covered the activities of the House for many years.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, Speaker Gbajabiamila sent his condolences to the late Salem’s family, Vanguard newspapers, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the House of Representatives Press Corps.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the late journalist, Gbajabiamila prayed God to grant his family and colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss, adding that Salem would be sorely missed.
Also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idriss Wase has expressed shocked and sadness over the death of Vanguard reporter attached to Nationa Assembly Mr. Tordue Salem.
In a condolence massage issued by his chief press secretary, Umar Muhammad Puma, Wase said “It is with great shock and a deep sense of loss that I mourned the death of a very hard working courageous reporter, Mr. Tordue Salem.
“Mr. Salem has no doubt contributed greatly to the practice of journalism and the development of the nation’s democracy..
The Deputy Speaker said the National Assamnbly, particularky the House of Representatives will miss Tordue brand of journalism that has enriched lives of many Nigetians.
While praying to God grant his soul eternal rest, the Deputy Speaker sent his condolences to the late Salem’s family, Vanguard newspapers, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the House of Representatives Press Corps.
The Minority Caucus in the House equally expressed shock and utter devastation over the news of the death of the Vanguard Newspaper correspondent attached to the House of Representatives, Mr. Tordue Salem
The Caucus in a statement by it leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said, “the news of the reported discovery of the remains of the journalist on Thursday, a month after he went missing, is horrifying and yet another sad commentary on worsening insecurity in our country.
“The minority caucus notes the report by the police that the journalist was knocked down by a hit and run driver, around Mabushi area in Abuja. However, as representatives of the people, we demand that the Police must not foreclose investigations, particularly given conflicting official security reports trailing Mr. Salem’s sudden disappearance and death.
