AKUNYILI SENDS DELEGATION TO FAMILIES
Minister of information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, yesterday sent a delegation to the families of the kidnapped journalists.
The delegation, led by the Liaison Officer, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Mary Ojike, were at the homes of Mr. Wahab Alabi-Oba, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo and Mr. Sylvester Okere, at the Journalists Estate, Arepo, in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The team which was received at Alabi-Oba's house by his wife, Barakat, children and sympathizers at about 2:00.p.m. urged the family to have unflinching faith in God that their breadwinner would come back home safely.
In a chat with Daily Sun , Alabi-Oba's younger brother, Alhaji Abdul-Mumini Onipe, revealed that the news has not been told to their octogenarian mother, who resides in Ilorin, Kwara State. He stated that the family has engaged in individual and group prayers for God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers.
'We are trying our best in praying to God to come to our rescue. Financially, we are not enough buoyant to meet the N250 million ransom. Also, we have consulted Hasbunallah Mosque in Ilorin that has been organizing prayer sessions on daily basis for the release of my brother and his colleagues.
'We have not told our mother about the development because she is about 80 years now. If we don't keep the news from her, it may lead to another thing. Even, we have streamlined the number of people into our family house in Ilorin,' he said.
In a brief chat, Barakat told Daily Sun : 'All Nigerians should join me in prayer so that the kidnappers don't harm my husband and his colleagues. The kidnappers should please release them.'
At the residence of the NUJ Zonal Secretary, Mrs. Anthonia Okonkwo, who looked forlorn enjoined Nigerians not to relent in their prayers so that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers .
But members of the delegation were moved to tears when they got to the residence of Mr. Sylvester Okere because his wife, Christiana, was indisposed. Lying helplessly in a couch in the sitting room, her tears flowed freely.
Daily Sun also visited the residence of Mr. Azeez Yekini, the driver who was kidnapped with the four journalists in Ebute, Ogun State. His wife, Titilayo, said: 'I have been praying to God for divine intervention. God, please, touch the hearts of the kidnappers so that they will release my husband.
'Since the incident happened, I have not been sleeping well. I am worried and I have been fasting and praying to God. We told our pastors and Imams about the incident and they are praying with us for the release of my husband, his boss and other kidnapped journalists.'