An aide to Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, risked his life to save the governor from the collapsed church building in Uyo.
At least 27 persons lost their lives, while others sustained injuries when the roof and the iron beams in the building housing Reigners Bible Church, Uyo, collapsed on Saturday during a church ceremony.
The church pastor, Akan Weeks, was to be ‘enthroned’ as a bishop in the ill-fated ceremony.
Ubong Mboho, an evangelist, who was inside the collapsed building told Premium Times, Sunday, that he witnessed the governor’s aide sacrifice his life to save the governor.
“He (the governor’s aide) was standing close to the governor. I saw him push the governor away from danger when the building started falling,” said Mr. Mboho whose father, Elijah Mboho, an influential arch bishop in Akwa Ibom, was scheduled to perform the ‘enthronement’.
Unfortunately, the governor’s aide, whom Premium Times later identified as Ernest Idem, couldn’t get out alive; he was hit by the iron beams and he died instantly, Mr. Mboho said.
Two other persons who spoke separately with Premium Times corroborated Mr. Mboho’s story on how Mr. Idem died.
The late Mr. Idem, from Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area, was said to have worked with the Zenith Bank before he joined the protocol unit of the state government when Mr. Emmanuel became the governor.
Nollywood actress Ini Edo, also gave her testimony how she escaped the incident by what she described as a divine intervention.
Ini Edo’s flight was cancelled without prior notice and while still bent on making it down for the event, she spent 7 hours in a gridlock before receiving a phone call about what had happened.
She said she was humbled and grateful to God. She also prayed for those who had lost love ones during the incident.
Source: Premium Times