By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Former Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang, has consoled the Gubernatorial Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan on the passage of his younger brother and two aides who died recently.
Sen. Akpan’s younger brother, Robert Akpan (Etekamba) died of illness while the two aides, Imo Isang and Police Inspector Ode were killed by gunmen in Imo State while on official duties.
Senator Enang, who is a stalwart of All Progressives Congress (APC), paid the condolence visit on Senator Akpan at his Shelter Afrique residence, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday, and described the deaths as shocking, painful and great losses to the families.
He said, “Etekamba was my friend. I must say I didn’t know about his ailment. I was more shocked when I heard of Imoh’s death because he was a brother to me. We lived and grew up together in Lagos. He was a bridge over several issues amongst us. It is indeed a shock that he left us too early but we can’t question God. We’ll all console ourselves because it is a loss to all of us so let’s bear it together and also join hands to raise the family.
Stressing the need to promote brotherhood, he said “despite the fact that we might have crises-crossed each other in the course of trying to gather votes and so we can build Akwa Ibom but I think we shouldn’t be too busy to share brotherhood, to share sympathies and to share humanity with each other. That is why we have suspended our campaigns to come and show honour. We’ll be with you throughout the events.
In his response, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan a.k.a OBA, thanked him for identifying with their family in their moment of grief and wished his brother and aides had lived much longer, but added that as mere mortals, they surrendered to the will of God.
He said, “We pray to God to console their families and comfort them as they will have to live with the pain of these loses. It is only God that can truly comfort them.
“We are very delighted that you’ve come to sympathize with us and we don’t take your sympathy visit for granted. We can only pray that this affliction shall not rise again.
“We can’t wish this to happen to anybody. We ask God to further strengthen us to bear these irreplaceable losses and forge ahead”.
