From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday bade a valedictory wave to the second Benue NUJ Chairman, Mrs Victoria Asher who died in office in the last two years.
Mrs Asher’s predecessor, the late Comrade David Ukuma, also died in office on 25 August, 2018, after serving for less than six months as the Benue Council’s chairman.
At the valedictory session, held in her honour at the NUJ House, Makurdi, the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, said the death of Mrs Asher created a great vacuum in the state, especially as it was the second time the state was losing a serving council chairman.
Governor Ortom, who was represented by his Principal Special Assistant on Media, Mr Nathaniel Ikyur, urged the general public to make peace with God while on earth and be ready for his call at anytime.
“The death of Mrs Victoria Asher is painful because since she assumed office as the NUJ chairman, we have had smooth working relationship with journalists in the state.
“Make your self right with the Lord before we meet with God,” he said.
He assured of the state government’s continuous partnership with state council of the NUJ for the all over good of the state and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
Also speaking, the NUJ National President, Chief Comrade Chris Isiguzo, described the deceased as a dedicated and hard-working woman who was committed to the activities of the NUJ.
According to him, the deceased recorded great achievements during her service as the chairman of the council, saying her death has created a great vacuum in the history of the NUJ.
“Mrs Victoria Asher was also up to her responsibilities at the National Secretariat. She delivers when given an assignment. I am happy because she made peace with her maker. I therefore, urge you all to make peace with the Lord.
“I am yet to come to terms that she is no more but she left those two beautiful children and the only way we can demonstrate our love for her is to bring them up in the right way,” he said.
He, therefore, charged journalists to reach out to the family and support them in both financial and moral upbringing of the children she left behind.
In their separate funeral orations, the General Manager, Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation (BPPC), Mr Ben Agande, Director General, Radio Benue, Mrs Espie Ushe Uba, represented by Mr Igba Ogbole, General Manager, Radio Nigeria Harvest FM and Mrs Christy Odeh Okpachu said the NUJ chair left when her selfless service was needed in repositioning the Benue NUJ.
They called on journalists and the people of the state to take the supreme responsibility of supporting the children and family she has left behind.
Mrs Asher died on Saturday, 30 January, 2021 as a result of complications that arose after delivering a set of twins and would be buried on Friday, 12 January, 2021 at Tse Maave – Ugber, Tongov, Katsina-Ala Local Goverment Area of Benue State.
