Uyo Church Disaster: Gov Udom Explains what Really Happened; Debunks Media Reports (Photos)
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, yesterday debunked the claim in some quarters that one of his aides, who pushed him out of the collapsed church building in Uyo on Saturday, lost his life in the process. He said the only staff directly in his service, who lost his life was a driver who sat elsewhere in another location within the church because he was a member of the church.
The governor said so far, 23 deaths have been confirmed in last Saturday’s Reigners’ Church building collapse in Uyo. Governor Emmanuel spoke during a solemn assembly at the Government House Banquet Hall in honour of victims of the collapsed building.
He said the earlier figures from some sections of the media came as a result of multiple counting resulting from the different private health centres visited, where victims of the incident were rushed to before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and the Specialist Hospital in Uyo.
He thanked God who honoured the covenant he made concerning his executive council members, maintaining that none of them died in the disaster. Emmanuel said he was able to charter aircrafts to bring in neuro-surgeons from around the country to treat the victims, adding that his efforts resulted in 99 per cent success rate for all the injured victims. Acknowledging the presence of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Emmanuel appealed for assistance from the Federal Government to help in the medical expenses of the victims.
The governor again reassured Akwa Ibom people not to be despaired by the occurrence as God is still with the state, noting that accidents would occur anywhere. He said what matter most was that the survivors had been given a second chance by God to straighten their ways so that they would be prepared for judgement after their life on earth.
“The second chance is for everyone and not just the survivors, and we should be more concerned by the account we would render before God, because He will certainly not be interested in our titles and positions.”
Goodwill messages were received from the Senate President represented by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Governor of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, who said: “I came to stand by my brother, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
This is too much for him to bear alone. I will support the victims and their families. I also came to inform him that David has conquered Goliath again in Rivers State.”
They both extended their condolences to the government and people of the state and assured them of their readiness to support the state government’s efforts in ameliorating the crisis. Prayers were offered for the divine intervention of God against further calamity and God’s comfort to the bereaved family and the state.
