Omo-Agege Visits Boat Accident Survivors, Promises Support

The Deputy Senate President and Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, on Thursday visited survivors and families of victims of Tuesday, December 20 boat mishap in the state.

The boat accident involved party members and supporters as they were returning from the APC governorship rally held earlier in the day in Okerenkoko and Ugborodo towns in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of the state.

The Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, in a statement on Thursday, December 22, said two of the survivors were recuperating at a clinic in Warri and are responding to treatment. He added that five others had earlier been discharged from the hospital.

According to him, Omo-Agege commiserated with the wounded and directed the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Austin Okogun, to do everything possible to ensure that they get the best medicare.

Niboro said the Deputy Senate and the APC flag bearer in the state also visited the family of a 25-year-old youth and member of the APC, Paul Ejoh, who died in the boat accident.

The statement quoted Omo-Agege as saying, “The visit should have been, in different circumstances, to celebrate victory, and not for condolences, but God knows best.

“Difficult as it is, he (the deceased) was our own and he gave everything he had for our cause. I am told he has a wife and two siblings, and more painful, no kids yet.

“We will give the wife and siblings the necessary support going forward. You can count on us. I pray Almighty God to grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate and the party’s Campaign Council in the state, on Wednesday announced the indefinite suspension of their ongoing campaigns following the death of some party members in the boat mishap.

A news release made available to The Deltan read: “Information at our disposal indicates that a commercial boat traveling in the opposite direction rammed into the boat carrying our supporters, and that two persons lost their lives, three are missing, and seven others are in hospital receiving treatment from injuries sustained in the accident.

“We are shocked by this tragedy, and our hearts are heavy. Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families. This is one tragedy too many, and our party is officially in mourning.

“We are currently working with the relevant authorities and communities to search for the missing. We are also in the process of reaching out to the families and loved ones of those that lost their lives, while ensuring that the injured receive the best care possible.

“In honour of the dead, missing and injured, we have decided to indefinitely suspend all further campaigns. The Campaign Council will advise on next steps in the coming days and weeks.

“Once again, we express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and pray that the Almighty comforts and gives them fortitude in these trying times.”

In the meantime, the Delta South senatorial candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (retd.), has condoled with Omo-Agege, the APC in the state and the families of the victims of the boat accident.

This was contained in a statement by the Media Director of Commodore Omatseye Nesiama Campaign Organization, Meluwa Kelvin.

The NNPP candidate prayed for a quick recovery for the injured as well as the repose of the souls of the deceased.