by Anike Jacobs
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| Mrs Acha Perekalama, deceased Mrs. Ruby Benjamin, deceased |
Mr. Matthew Otolo, husband to one of the women who died in the Ghastly accident while returning to Yenagoa after a private visit to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, at her Okrika country home, Rivers State on the 14th of February.
Mr Otolo, a staff of the state owned broadcasting corporation Glory FM, who resides along Ozikoro Road, in the Ekeki suburb of Yenagoa is yet to get over the death of his beloved wife and mother of his six children, Ayakpo.
Speaking with Vanguard newspaper, Otolo who almost attempted suicide after the incident said, “Where do I start from? We agreed not to leave each until after 90 years.”
According to him, the call for the fateful trip to greet the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, came at about 6am on Wednesday. He said, “When she finished receiving the call, I asked her who was on the phone and she replied that it was one of the women leaders. She said they wanted them to visit the First Lady in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. My spirit rejected the call immediately and I told her my feeling.”
The bereaved husband described the deceased as a partner and mother, saying he allowed her go when she convinced him that she would return early.
“She left on Wednesday. We were calling one another at every opportunity. She told me that they had decided to wait and see off the First Lady to the airport for her trip to Abuja. I even sent her some clothes to change the one she wore when she left.”
According to him, he received the news of the tragic accident at about 6pm.
“I was in shock and collapsed. I called her number severally but no answer. I had the hope that she did not die. I can’t imagine what pain she and others went through in the fire. Can you imagine, there is no way for me to identify my wife? We agreed not to leave each other until we are 90 years old. My pillar is gone, where do I start from. How do I stay alone in this big house.”
