By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has said that she is mobilising philanthropists across the country to build a Modern Viewing Centre and a recreational park to immortalize the death of the eight football fans that lost their lives while watching European League match between Manchester United and Anderlcht.
Ita-Giwa disclosed this in Calabar on Thursday during a candle light procession in honor of the football fans at Njagasang community where the unfortunate incidence occurred.
It would be recalled that eight persons including a young lady died through electrocution while watching a live match.
She said “I and other mothers and several youths have gathered here to honor our children and loved ones. I am not doing this because of any political interest, because I am a mother. It hurts to lose your child and as such something must be done to immortalize them”.
She described the incident as profound and called on all and sundry to rally around the community by building a befitting recreation park for them.
According her, “in civilized communities, when people die for such a cause, you come out to remember that day. You come out to commiserate with the people
You come out to create activities that would commemorate that day showing that it happened”.
Ita-Giwa” thought that for innocent people to come and die like that for something they were passionate about, which is football, we thank God because I am really overwhelmed by the turnout. We have over a thousand people who turned out for this remarkable event. We have to start showing love as Nigerians to each other as well as show compassion to each other”.
The former presidential adviser said “I had reached out to someone like Kanu Nwankwo, who is so sympathetic. In fact he is talking about an All-Stars Football Match to raise funds to come and develop this community. He had promised to do so. Joseph Yobo is ready to also collaborate with Kanu to mobilize their other colleagues for the match”.
Ita-Giwa also she had contacted Multichoice management and they are coming to assist us in building the viewing centre and provide television as well as indefinite subscription.
She added “if these people died watching Manchester United, we will find a way to make sure that Manchester United presence is felt. We are not going to give up. We are going to use all our connections to call the world and let the world know this community and that the inhabitants love football and especially in Cross River State.
“Their passion for football is unbelievable and we will not let them die and go like that. We should turn them to stars. We should keep their memories alive. All the children they left behind, we are going to make sure they have good education and grow up properly,”she added.
