Vice President’s Helicopter Destroys 78-year Old Woman’s House

The Vice-President’s attempts to create the usual media jamboree and official hype suffered an unusual and embarrassing setback last week, when the helicopter conveying his Royal Vice-Majesty destroyed the home of a poor 78-year old woman, Mrs. Bessie Obi on Friday in Cross River State.

Vice President Namadi Sambo went on a visit to Buanchor, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State on Friday to ascertain the extent of damage caused by recent landslides from surrounding mountain silting rivers, reports the Punch Newspapers. He should have just stayed in Aso Rock and let those officials in the Ministry of the Environment whose responsibility it is to oversee and recommend solutions to such tragedies do their jobs, instead of playing to sentiments and creating a  media hype over an environmental issue. His obvious attempts to give government a sensitive face hit the rocks, or in this case, Mrs. Obi’s mud house.

Strangely enough, the Punch reports that the VP was oblivious of the extra damage caused by his flying contraption, and that it was the DG of NEMA who assessed the damage and assured the woman and four other occupants of the house that the matter would be addressed. Towing the same line of giving the matter a dress, the VP said that the Federal Government of Nigeria is taking steps to ad-dress the concerns that flooding had caused to persons and properties in the area, by constituting a committee to manage the situation – now they’ll have to constitute another committee to manage Mrs. Obi’s situation too!

A 72-year old woman, Mrs. Lucy Abang said the VP’s visit would remain memorable in the history of the village. It would remain memorable in Mrs. Obi’s life I’m sure. The Youth leader of the community, Mr. McSteven Kembre said the people of the community were elated by Sambo’s visit. Why wouldn't they, after it was reported that large sums of money had been allocated to cushion the effects of the flooding, and that after several assessments and donations by government and groups, the people were a bit relieved.

QUESTIONS: What was the pilot doing landing so close to a house? Wasn't there a community square where he could touch down? Was he drunk? Why didn't the VP see the damage that was being wrought by the helicopter from hell as it landed? How much compensation was given to Mrs. Obi? Whatever it is, I just hope it was enough to wipe off her tears in this life and the next.