IN remembrance of the tragic electrocution incident which claimed the lives of about seven persons in a viewing centre in Calabar last Thursday, a former Presidential Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sen Florence Ita-Giwa, has promised to build a `Memorial Viewing Centre’ in commemoration of victims of the sad incident.
There were conflicting reports about the death toll, but the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, confirmed that seven persons died while 11 others are currently hospitalised at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
The incident happened at around 9.30pm at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar municipality local government area of the state while football lovers were watching a UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United and Anderlecht.
Ita-Giwa said she received the news of the tragic incident with shock, adding that the incident was pathetic because the deceased left behind their loved ones.
According to her, sport was one of the activities that keeps the youths off crime, adding that “some youths are unemployed; there don’t have any form of relaxation, and it is sad to hear that they died while expressing their love for football.
“I am a mother, I feel pained on sighting the viewing centre because when you imagine that these lovely people died after paying N50 to watch a single game is very pathetic.
“We are going to take a tour of most of the communities to ensure that viewing centres are far from high tension cables because we can’t take away football from the youths.
“As a way to commiserate with the deceased and victims of the incident, I will build a standard viewing centre for the youths of this community.’’
Ita-giwa, who led other women under the aegis of `Mothers of Efik Kingdom’ on the visit, promised that the group would work closely with relatives of the deceased to ensure that they are well taken care of.
According to her, the tragedy that has befallen the state needs national and international supports, hence, the need for the relevant agencies to wade in.
Ita-Giwa, who laid a wreath at the site of the viewing centre, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for commiserating with the state government and members of the victims’ families.
Responding, Chairman of Nyagasang community, Mr Emmanuel Umoh, thanked Ita-Giwa for her kind gesture.
Umoh said that the tragic incident had thrown the whole community into mourning, adding that elders of the community would give her a land to build the viewing centre.
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