Tears flew freely on Thursday morning as the League of Softsell Publishers, the umbrella body of Softsell magazines publishers in Nigeria, met to discuss the circumstances of the death of Mr. Dada Eriye, Publisher Bravo Weekly and to make arrangements for a befitting burial for the fallen journalist.
Mr. Dada Eriye, 51, died a day earlier at the intensive care of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, as a result of second degree burns sustained from a fire incidence ignited by a generator explosion while rounding up production for his magazine at about 11.30pm on February 14th, 2015.
The President of the body, Mr. Dayo Asaju fought back tears severally while rendering an account of efforts made by a four man committee set up by the body to safe their embattled colleague after an emergency meeting on Monday.
On why a patient, who was in the late journalist’s critical condition could not get first aid treatment from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH when he was brought in to the hospital before referring him to Igbobi Othopaedics Hospital and later LUTH, the Softsell Publishers body upbraided government owned health facilities to respect the sanctity of life and uphold the Hippocratic oath to which medical doctors swore to; to protect and uphold the sanctity of life. The body therefore resolved to seek clarifications from relevant authorities including the Nigerian Medical Association and the Lagos State Ministry of Health so as to forestall a re-occurrence.
Thereafter, the Softsell Publishers body, together with the late journalist’s other colleagues and professional associates moved to his house in Akute Area, to formally pay a condolence visit and commiserate with the family over the death of their bread winner.
The League was received by notable journalist and elder brother of the deceased, Mr. Festus Eriye who acknowledged the efforts made by the body to save the life of the deceased; he thereafter briefed the late journalist’s colleagues about the family’s burial plans.
In his response, Mr. Asaju condoled with the family and pledged that the body would not abandon Dada Eriye’s widow and his underage children even after the burial.
Meanwhile, the League of Softsell Publishers have opened a condolence register in its secretariat at 18, Ayo Alabi Street, Seye B/Stop, Ajayi Rd., Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos, for members of the public and the League of Soft sell Publishers’ corporate friends and associates to express their condolence over the death of the Bravo Weekly Publisher.