The absence of the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh at the funeral of Late Lawrence Okorie has kept journalists in the State gazing.Late Mr. Lawrence Okorie an ace reporter and sports writer joined the services of the Akwa Ibom State Newspaper Corporation, publisher of the The Pioneer, in 2001 and worked there until his death this year.
Some journalists who observed the obvious absence of the information Commissioner and Chief Press Secretary to the government said the action may strain relationship between government information managers and members of the union.
A journalist said information managers in previous administrations particularly Mr. Ise Akpaso, and Parchi Umoh were always very concerned about building good relationship with the press but such cannot be said of Aniekan Umanah and Ekerette Udoh.
“It is a gratuitous insult to journalists in the State that no government information manager showed up to pay last respect to our late brother who worked so hard to give the government a good face”, Mr. Ubong Otong, a photojournalist observed.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr. Aniekan Umanah and Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ekerette Ekpenyong neither signed the condolence register in honour of the deceased nor sent a condolence to the family.
Neither the Commissioner nor the CPS had a representative at the funeral held earlier today at the NUJ secretariat, information drive, Uyo.
The Late Lawrence Okorie was aged 51 and is survived by a wife and daughter.
