By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN – EDO State Government has concluded plans to build an edifice, which will be called “Democracy House” and have the names of the three journalists who died in an auto crash involving the convoy of the state governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole on it.

The three journalists are Olatunji Jacob of Independent Television, ITV; Fidelis Okhani of African Independent Television, AIT and George Okosun also of Independent Television, ITV.

Oshiomhole made the disclosure in Benin City, at the lying-in-state of the Independent Television Cameraman, George Okosun, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, yesterday.

The two ITV journalists who died in the auto crash were buried, weekend amidst tears.

The ITV reporter, Jacobs, was laid to rest at Oloma, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, while the cameraman, Okosun, was buried at Ivue-Uromi, Esan North- East Local Government Area of the state.

As a mark of appreciation for his contributions to the development of the state and for upholding the right to know and to be informed, Governor Oshiomhole said the Oloma Primary School will be rebuilt to the same standard with others in the state this year.

He said: “To  ensure that the three children he left behind attend school to university level, the sum of N5 million will be deposited in a bank account for each of them while the sum of N5 million will be given to the widow for the upkeep of the children.”

He added that the state government will stand by the children, as they will attend schools of their choice.

Oshiomhole described the late George Okosun, as the best cameraman in the Government House Press Corps in view of his passion and sense of news coverage.

He said: “We are yet to understand why the driver of the tipper truck left his lane and crashed into the convoy which led to the death of the three journalists. We are waiting for the police to unravel the ugly development.”

He added that to assist the family of the late George Okosun, the sum of N10 million will be paid into  a bank  account by the state government for the education of his only son and the wife will be given N5 million while the  aged parents will get N3 million.

Fidelis Okhani, the third journalist with AIT,  who also died in the crash had earlier been laid to rest in his home town, Iviukwe, Etsako East Local Government Area.