Newspaper vendors in Nigeria have disassociate themselves from the family of their late colleague, Ifeanyi Okereke, who died after being shot by a security aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for demanding N500m from the speaker.
In a letter made available on Wednesday, in Abuja, the leadership of the newspaper vendors faulted the demands of Okereke’s family, berating them for threatening the speaker with litigation.
READ ALSO: Widow Of Late Vendor Distant Self From N500m Compensation Demand
The letter was jointly signed by Comrade Benji Obute, President, Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA); and Comrade Etim Iwara, Chairman, Newspapers Vendors Association, Abuja (NVAA).
While disowning the late colleague family’s letter in its entirety, the vendors said they were neither consulted nor ordered anybody to write and send such letter to the Speaker on their behalf.
“In as much as we cannot decide for Ifeanyi’s family what they want in place of their slain son, we strongly object to the use of our name in the letter. We are not at war with anybody or agency and not afraid of going to the streets,” it read.
READ ALSO: Family Of Late Newspaper Vendor Demands N500m Compensation
“At our level, we are engaging the Rt Honourable Speaker and his team, and having fruitful discussions aimed at getting adequate compensation for the family. We do not encourage and support any aggressive approach since the Speaker has taken responsibility and doing everything within his powers to alleviate the pains of the family and all those associated with the slain Ifeanyi.
“We enjoin the family to tow the path of dialogue and have this issue resolved amicably as needless legal approach and media trial won’t yield the needed fruit,” the letter added
