It was a case of from rags to riches amid tears of joy for a pure water hawker, Ms Amarachi Nwachukwu, who was gifted N200,000 to start a small business by the Anambra State governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr Obiora Okonkwo, on Wednesday.

Fortune smiled on her after she fainted while hawking satchet water at Ndida market in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State, while backing a 6-month-old baby.

The incident attracted the attention of the ZLP flag bearer for the November 6 poll who was in the area to flag-off a road project.

Ms Nwachukwu, who said she is a single mother fell into a muddy road, with her baby, as the ZLP candidate arrived the market, spilling the satchet water on her head, before she was rushed into a nearby shop.

She told Okonkwo who insisted on seeing her that she had not eaten for two days, saying that her last meal being soaked garri, which she drank without sugar, was on Monday night.

Nwachukwu added: “I don’t have a husband, I am not sick. I’m only weak because I have not eaten for days. I only used the N200 given to me by someone to buy pure water to hawk, so I can get money to feed myself."

Speaking to journalists, Okonkwo said: “I came to Okpoko to flag-off the road project for Ndida market in Okpoko. This is a place I knew as a child, and we know that the people here are suffering.

“The woman who collapsed complained of not having eaten for days, but we have given the parish priest of St Charles Lwanga N200,000 for her to begin a small business. I do not want to give her the money here, so she doesn’t become a subject of attack. We have told her to go to the church after now and claim the money.

“I have also instructed that my foundation, Pro-Value Humanity Foundation, takes her for comprehensive health check.

“My mind bleeds because people are suffering this much, and these are the kind of things that drive me to become the governor, so I can help people,” gubernatorial hopeful said.