The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr Emma Okah and some veteran journalists have paid glowing tributes to late Augustine Nwikinaka who was laid to rest last Saturday, in Kpean, his home town in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During a brief stop-over of the corpse at the NUJ Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Emma Okah represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, described the deceased as an icon, who had made indelible footprints on the sands of time.
The Commissioner who described the death as a big shock also described him as a man of honour and diligence.
He stressed the need for the family and the entire journalism community to take solace in the fact that he died in the Lord.
Also speaking, a veteran journalist, Fidelis Agbiki, said that the death was a big blow to the journalism profession.
In his own remarks, the General Manager of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Vincent Ake, said that Nwikinaka was a friend of all.
Mr Ake, who is also a veteran journalist said that the good thing was that the deceased died in the Lord.
For the Bureau Chief of Business Day, Port Harcourt, Mr Ignatius Chukwu, the deceased always assisted those who were in need.
Mr Chukwu also said that the late journalist will be remembered for championing the establishment of the Mass Communication Department at the Rivers State University.

By: John Bibor