Aba explosion: Atiku gives N20m to victims

* As Ikpeazu promises to offset medical bills of hospitalized
victims

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Presidential candidate has donated N10 million to the victims of
the pipeline fire which killed scores of people at Umuaduru and
Umuimo communities, Osisioma Ngwa council area, Abia State.

Atiku, who was represented by his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi,
said he was saddened by the incident and consoled the families of
those who lost their lives.

“Our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is out of
the country. He would have been here by himself; he insisted that
we must come to sympathize with our people. We commiserate with the
Governor, the people of Abia state, Osisioma Ngwa council and the
families who lost their loved ones in the incident.

Continuing Obi said, “When we were riding to the community, the
governor said the government should check the quality of pipes
being used and how to secure the pipeline to avoid a recurrence. We
will join hands to fix our land so that we won’t record such
incident again”.

Gov. Ikpeazu, while expressing gratitude for visit and donation
of money, pledged to offset the hospital bills of the victims and
urged those who were yet to access medical attention to do so
without further delay.

The governor also promised to help rehabilitate those who
suffered losses in the incident to enable restart their businesses
and directed the Commissioner for Health to ensure that the victims
are taken of at the hospital.

“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to those who ran
away and those at traditional homes should come out to access
medical attention. Let them present themselves to the hospitals.
Those who have been rendered orphans and those who lost their
properties and businesses will be assisted. We are determined to
provide succor and help for those who are alive. We cannot replace
everything, but we try to make the situation a little bit
bearable.”