ANAMBRA NUJ, LAWMAKERS, CLO, TRADERS COMMISERATE
A cross section of Anambrarians including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) yesterday sympathised with The Sun Publishing Ltd following the inferno that gutted the headquarters of the company in Lagos in the early of Tuesday.
The Chairman of Awka Market Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Sir, Charles Anierobi who led some members of his association to The Sun office in Awka, expressed shock at the incident especially the enormous loss incurred
Describing The Sun as the traders delight, Anierobi urged the management and staff not to be demoralised but to see the challenge as one that would take the company to greater levels, praying for God's provision for the company to cushion the effect of the losses.
'I'm here with some of my members to show solidarity with The Sun Newspapers for what has happened to her. We received the news of the fire incident with great shock because The Sun is our paper. It fights the cause of the less privileged and those that are being oppressed. So we are here to say we sympathise with you and to pray that God will replenish what was lost.' He said
In its own reaction, the Anambra State Chapter of the CLO through its chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah said: 'The Anambra State Branch of CLO received with utmost shock, the news of the inferno that gutted the headquarters of The Sun. We commiserate with the management and staff. We are pained that this disaster occurred at a time The Sun under a new management is bringing far reaching innovations in the company and repackaging the newspaper for wider acceptance.
'No doubt, the loss is a setback but we are consoled knowing fully that this is a stepping stone for greater exploits. No matter the obstacles, 'The Sun' must continue to shine.' The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Orientation, Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Ejiofor Egwuatu said, 'Oh, what a tragedy. I commiserate with
The Sun family. I hope and pray this will not destroy the efforts of the print media in delivering the goodies of facts.'
His colleague and chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon Ikenna Mbazulike-Amaechi described the incident as a big blow, but adde0d I am confident this will strengthen The Sun and you will come out stronger.'
Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council, Comrade Tochukwu Udorji described the inferno as a catastrophe and called I call on the police to investigate it if there is any foul play and bring the culprit to book.'
More reactions
Govs Orji, Idris,
Governors Theodore Ahamefule Orji of Abia State and Ibrahim Idris of Koja State have commiserated with the management of The Sun over the unfortunate fire that gutted part of the organization's corporate headquarters.
The Abia Governor, while charging the management not to be dampened by the loss, however, expressed thanks to God that no life was lost in the inferno which occurred at a very ungodly hour.
'I read with shock…news of the fire incident that ravaged parts of your corporate headquarters and learning on its trails property worth millions of naira destroyed. It is regrettable that such misfortune will befall your organization, knowing the kind of selfless service you render to the public.
'I urge you not to be distressed or dampened by the ugly incident while all of us from Abia thank God that no life was lost to the inferno given the ungodly time this unfortunate inferno started.
Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State exprsessed his heartfelt sympathy for the publisher and management of The Sun over the incident.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Zakari Adamu, Governor Idris recounted the monunmental feat The Sun has recorded even within its short span of existence, and called on both the management and staff not to allow the event dampen their morale
With the current global recession in which most media organisations are struggling to barely keep their heads above water, the statement said the governor was pained over the monumental loss of property and valuables put at millions of naira
'As for the government and people of Kogi State,' the statement said, 'we shall continue to patronise The Sun as it is one of the most reliable newspapers in the country.'
Oshiomhole
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, said he felt the pains of the management and staff of The Sun over the fire.
'I have been an avid reader of The Sun newspaper, and have noted how they toiled day and night to bring the newspaper to its present enviable status. While we thank God that no life was lost, it is very painful that this unfortunate incident is coming when The Sun has entrenched itself as the leading tabloid in the country.
'I also feel pained that this is coming at a time the government is calling on Nigerians to invest in the country to abate the level of unemployment in the society.
'I, however, have no doubt in my mind that the newspaper will bounce back stronger and better, after all, what can we do without The Sun?'
Let it be a tonic- Oni
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Segun Oni, has said management of The Sun Publishing Limited, must not be deterred.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Governor Oni said he was shocked when he received the news. 'This should be seen as a tonic for you to reinvigorate your energy towards better service delivery to your teeming readers.'
'In my mind, I appreciate how difficult and painful it is for a media house to suddenly lose equipment like computers and production materials like newsprint and I can imagine the level of agony this incident has inflicted on your organisation. 'However, I urge that this fire should not be allowed to deter The Sun Publishing Limited from carrying out its responsibilities to its teeming readers, in particular and Nigerians in general.
'I share in this painful moment, which I am sure is trying and pray that God, in His infinite mercies will restore whatever that has been destroyed by the fire incident,' Oni said.
Speaker Bankole
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, yesterday said that the fire disaster in The Sun has further reinforced the dire need for more safety consciousness in both private and public buildings across the country.
Bankole, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Bakare, regretted that The Sun lost so much to the fire at a time like this when the publishing sector is going through a hard time.
He called on owners of business concerns to be safety conscious by ensuring that safety precaution measures are put in place to reduce the level of destruction of such disaster when it could not be prevented.
He stressed the need for fire service agencies across the country to be reinvigorated to be able to rise to the challenges of fire fighting in the country.
Governor Obi
'I wish to, on behalf of the government and people of Anambra State, express our concern, sympathies and solidarity with you,' Obi said in a letter addressed to the Managing Director, Mr, Tony Onyima.
'Over the years, The Sun has carved a niche in Nigerian journalism through its unique credentials that quickly endeared it to the people. The Sun titles have come to bridge a gap in Nigerian journalism by presenting news in a bold, refreshing and exciting style. Little wonder that your publications are widely read in Anambra State.
However, we are relieved that the incident has not affected your resilient spirit as we saw the newspaper on newsstands today (yesterday). Please see the incident as a temporary set back to be soon overcome. Let The Sun keep shining.'
LG boss
On his part Chairman of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Hon. Albert Durojaiye, urged management of the Voice of the Nation to take solace in God.
'I have read the accounts of those we can consider as eye witness, but I want to say that nothing happens to man without God's knowledge. Though very unfortunate, but I want to say that God knows best.' he said.
He commended the efforts of members of staff of The Sun to put out the fire, which ravaged many offices in the publishing complex.
'Ãn every situation, we should thank God and give glory to Him. Even though the fire has damaged many things and affected many offices, we still have cause to thank God for making it possible that there was no casualty.'
Durojaiye urged the management of the newspapers to remain focused even as he prayed that whatever must have been lost in the fire would be restored by God in no distance future.