… As one member allegedly commits
suicide, others fall sick, run into depression.
The operators of the Lokoja GSM Village, located opposite Jaiz Bank, have once again made an appeal to Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo to come to their aid.
The appeal by the members is occasion by the promise made by the Gov. Ododo that the state government would support in rebuilding the GSM village at Kpata ravaged by fire as well as cushion the loss of members to enable victims of the fire disaster to restore their sources of livelihood.
As at Press time, the Nigerian Post report that one of the operators, Friday Ajeka, a 32 year old indigene of Ofu LGA affected by the inferno had on
26 October, committed suicide, with many of the operators facing one health challenge or the other.
Recalled that Gov. Ododo gave the assurance to help support the victims when he visited the scene of the fire incident to assess the level of damage caused by the fire outbreak.
The Governor who had sympathized with the victims of the fire outbreak, described the extent of damage as a worrisome development, promised to ensure that owners of businesses and other victims of the fire outbreak at the GSM village are supported to bounce back from the setbacks that has affected their means of livelihood.
But months after, the affected persons are still in a state of confusion, leading to depression with one case of a member said to have committed suicide owing to the loan he collected from Jaiz and Access Bank.
The GSM village has according to many of those affected provided a dependable and legitimate sources of living for several youths and women in the state, adding that it has positively impacted the state’s economy.
While the operators say they have looked forward to Gov. Ododo’s assurances of immediate relief measures, they however said they are now living in uncertainty about the plans for rebuilding and recovery of their affected property as a result of the fire disaster as no words nor the rebuilding process has commenced by the State Government.
Speaking with one of the Operators, Murtala Mohammed, appealed to Gov Ododo to quickly come to their aid. He said many of them have fallen sick owing to the loss of their means of livelihood.
” Some of us have families with wives and children. As we speak, we the men are losing our dignity as we can no longer fend for our family as bread winners. Our women are losing their honour because there seems to be nothing to lean on. We are therefore using this medium to call on Gov. Ododo to come to our rescue”.
” We are very impressed with the Governor since his assumption of office. His policies are people oriented. He has improved on the civil service, particularly that of the Local Government. While we believe that his busy schedule is what has made him forget us, we are using this medium to remind him to come to our aid as already Many of our members are already losing hope and like you mentioned, whether it is true or not, we are losing lives of members daily”.
The GSM operators thanked Gov. Ododo for repositioning the State in terms of human capital development, appealed to the Chief servant to look in their direction for support to enable them bounce back.
