By Frank Ulom
The wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Rev (Mrs) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has footed the hospital bills of the two traders who suffered severe electrocution injuries in Calabar last Saturday.
Rev. (Mrs) Otu who visited the victims, Chijioke Udoji and Uzoma Anthony, at the Calabar General Hospital on Thursday, was accompanied by Hon. Effiong Ekarika, lawmaker representing Calabar South I State Constituency in the Cross River State State Assembly.
The Wife of the Governor, who was represented by one of her aides, Dr (Mrs) Inyang Asibong, said being at the hospital fits into Governor Bassey Otu’s “People’s First” philosophy, and coming to the assistance of those impacted by avoidable situations.
Mr Chijioke Udoji and Uzoma Anthony, traders at Chamley in Calabar South, cheated death by the whiskers after they were severely electrocuted on Saturday evening when an electric high tension pole sparked and went up in flames and as they tried to salvage their wares from their shops.
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Speaking at the hospital visit, Dr Asibong quoted the First Lady as saying, “I am here to not only thank God for His divine mercy of sparing your lives in that unfortunate electrical mishap but to assure you that the Government of Cross River State identifies with both of you and your families in this terrible but avoidable circumstances.
“Let your minds be at rest and thankful to God as my office has undertaken all the medical expenses. I wish to also commend all those who put their lives at risk to avert a fatal outcome. I, however, urge the concerned authorities to investigate and see how such an unfortunate situation can be averted in the future.”
Also, Hon. Ekarika supported the initiative of the First Lady with N500,000.
CONVERSEER reports that it took the effort of some men to save the traders from the dangers of the high tension.