A man whose children and a grandchild were crushed in the fatal road mishap at Ovia River, Ovia River in Edo State, Chief Samingo Etukakpan, has disclosed that he is still alive against the rumours that he fainted and died on hearing the sad news.

Chief Etukakpan lost two sons and a granddaughter, with the pregnant daughter inlaw earlier said to have died in the accident, is said to be making recovery at the hospital.

Etukakpan called Daily Sun on Tuesday morning, as a response to several earlier unanswered calls to him, to apologise for not picking up earlier calls and to explain that he was advised to avoid phone calls at such a traumatising period.

“But I am not dead as some People went to town to spread that I collapsed and died on hearing the sad news. I missed your calls yesterday. But I wasn’t with the phone because they took away the phones from me and advised to not to answer calls.

“Though I had been down even before the tragic incident hit my family, by the grace of God, I am alive.

“I lost two sons and a grandchild, which I had advised they shouldn’t take her on that journey. At least, she would have survived.

“I’m told my daughter inlaw is responding to treatment; at least she spoke yesterday. I pray God to save her life cos if she had died then I would have been left childless at this age.

“The governor came yesterday on a condolence visit to us. We are very grateful for the visit,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Umo Eno had led a delegation of the state government functionaries to Etukakpan’s family residence, at number 8, Nnama Street, Afaha Eket, Eket LGA, where the incident a pathetic and a great loss, not just to the families and the Salvation Army Church but also the state at large.

Consoling the family, the governor said that the family and others who lost their loved d ones were not alone in the grief as the government and people of the state have shared in their trying time.

“In a time like this, words fail us…, I don’t really know how to start consoling this family. But I know that the holy spirit could do more than we can do. So I am asking the holy spirit to take over and be a comforter to you at this time.

“We feel this pain because these people are first Akwa Ibomites and human beings. Again, one would tend to query God because they were coming back from Church. But we can’t query God because he is an all-sovereign.

“And so, we are here today as human beings to pay you this condolence. We are here with the leadership of the state as it is for now. We have led the government here.

“And we may not be able to go around every home even though we will identify all of the families. We will pay condolence to the church only.

“I have spoken to the Territorial Commander and we are monitoring events. I know you too well. So I said I am in, I had to come here to pay my condolences, hoping that it will bring any soothing, and comfort to you at this time.

“As a state, we feel sad and we pray that God will rest the souls of all the departed children. I am trusting that they die for a good course,” the governor said.

He urged the Etokakpan family to be consoled in the word of God knowing that the children lost their lives for a good cause while in the service of God, referring to the departed as true soldiers of Christ.

•Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Umo Eno and his led delegation of the state government functionaries at Etukakpan’s family residence

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