NNN editor dies 24 hours after protest over unpaid salaries

By Samuel Aruwan
Kaduna

Barely 24 hours after distressed staff of New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) protested non-payment of their 30 months’ salaries and other entitlements on Thursday in Kaduna, one of its editors, Mr. John Akpus, who had been battling with stroke, passed on Friday night.

Akpus, an Associate Editor, New Nigerian Weekly, died in a private hospital in Kaduna having lost his speech about two months ago when his illness got worse in Abuja, where he was said to be running errands for the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who is said to be his kinsman from Nasarawa state.
Announcing the death, Abdullaziz Ahmed Kadir, a senior reporter of NNN, said: “John Akpus, a staff of distressed New Nigerian Newspapers, the last legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, abandoned by his benefactors, the 19 Northern state governors, died after struggling with stroke. He is survived by his aged mother, wife and children.”

The statement added that another staff of the company, Mr. Mever Ayinla, is also recuperating from a partial stroke he suffered, while the Managing Director, Alhaji Tukur Abdulrahman, is recuperating from a heart surgery.
Our reporter, who had earlier visited Akpus in his hospital bed, saw him recuperating except that his speech which was not forthcoming and he was only communicating in written words and as well waving hands.
At the hospital before his death, his wife told our reporter that he went through pains and excruciating experience as the stroke he had worsened his situation before he recovered.

In his tribute, Malam Imam Imam, spokesman of Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who had previously worked with Akpus said: “I can’t believe John Akpus is gone. In 2001, we were both elected into the executive committee of the NUJ, New Nigerian Newspapers chapel. John as chairman with my humble self as his deputy, ever since that day, he remained to me, THE CHAIRMAN. I am pained by his death because I was in his house yesterday night only to be told that he has not been discharged from the hospital.
“I returned home hoping to pay a visit to the hospital this morning only to be woken by the news of his passing away. How I wish I visited him yesterday no matter how late. The smile in his face was as constant as the Northern star. Adieu Chairman!”