(Photo credit-CNN)
By Lawal A. Dogara,Kaduna
Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku has condoled the management and staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper over the death of their Managing Editor, Mr. Suleiman Bisalla. In a letter to the Managing Director of the newspaper, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, the Minister said he was saddened by the demise of Mr. Bisalla along with twenty other Nigerians in the bomb explosion at Emab Plaza in Wuse Two, Abuja.
The Minister said he knew Mr. Bisalla when he was the Political Editor of the Daily Trust Newspaper and described him as a dedicated and talented professional who acquainted himself satisfactorily as a reporter and editor.
Mr. Maku urged the staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper not to be demoralised by the sad and unfortunate incident, but to remain focused in condemning acts of terrorism in their reportage with a view to arousing public consciousness against terrorism in the country.
In addition, the Minister enjoined the newspaper to deny terrorists space to ventilate their divisive and hate messages which aimed at causing panic and setting the citizens of Nigeria against one another.
Mr. Maku prayed God to comfort the family of the deceased and the entire management and staff of the New Telegraph and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Equally,Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of fellow Nigerians who were killed in Wednesday’s explosions which occurred in Abuja, Lagos and Adamawa resulting in the death of about 21 people, including New Telegraph Managing Editor, Mr. Suleiman Bisala, and scores of others injured.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Dr. Kalu said “the consistent killing of people and wanton destruction of property by terrorists were getting out of hand and could undermine the country’s sovereignty if not confronted headlong.”
“The time has come for the government to throw in everything in halting this spiraling carnage. The situation is worsening and calls for a drastic solution. Nigerians must rise and collectively tackle this mindless waste of precious lives,” he said.
Dr. Kalu, who condoled particularly with the Bisalas whose son died on active duty in the service of his fatherland, implored God to comfort the bereaved and grant the country the enablement to find a lasting solution to the terrorists’ menace and other acts of insurgency.
Reacting to the incident,the Jama’atu Nasril Islam(JNI) and the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) have expressed sadness over the recent bomb blast in Abuja in which many people were killed.
The two bodies said such terrorists acts in which lives of innocent souls were always affected,must be condemned.
The AYF in a message on Thursday from its National President,Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu,particularly expressed condolence to the families of the victims and sympathized with the Nigeria Union of journalists(NUJ) over the death of an editor with the New Telegraph,Suleiman Bisallah,who died during the explosion at Emab plaza.
JNI,in a statement dinged by the Secretary General,Dr.Khalid Abubakar Aliyu ,said the spate of bomb blades in Kano,Adamawa, Borno States and the FCT,was quite worrisome and must be condemned.
According to the Muslim organization,prior to the bomb blast that rocked Abuja in Wuse 2, Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, similar incidents occurred at the School of Hygiene, Kano, on Monday 23th June, 2014, several incidents also occurred in Adamawa and Borno States.
“These repeated devastating incidents that characterize life in Nigeria and the Northern part in particular, is very alarming and worrisome.We therefore condemn in the strongest terms these barbaric acts that tend to reduce humanity to a renegade level, which is un-becoming of the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Particularly, innocent souls in pursuit of their lawful means of livelihood are the worst hit.”
“While commending the security agencies for their quick arrest of the suspected culprits in Kano and Abuja’s episodes, we strongly urge them to always be proactive through gathering relevant information that will assist in the use of modern equipments/gadgets as used elsewhere in the world.”
“We advise individuals to be security conscious wherever they find themselves and above all, not to relent with prayers, especially that Ramadan is fast approaching, we implore all to intensify prayers for relief, succor and to emancipate us from this scurry situation.
We commiserate with the government and people of Adamawa, Borno, Kano States and the FCT for these ravaging acts. We especially condole with the families of the victims. We pray that peace and security shall be restored to Nigerian nation in general. May Allah, the Most High, continue to be with us throughout this trying moment and beyond, Amin.”
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