"Go And Die": Gov. Oshiomhole Apologizes To Widow, Donates N2m + Offers Assistance (PHOTO)

On Monday, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole apologized to the widow he insulted while on inspection tour of the state. He donated N2 million to her, offered her employment and promised to help her second child in getting education.

It will be recalled that Mr. Oshiomhole has found himself in a predicament after a video of him telling the widow to "go and die" leaked online and became viral. The remarks earned public outcry.

In the video, the Governor is seen issuing an order to men of the State War Against Indiscipline to confiscate some goods of an alleged roadside hawker. The woman was accused of obstructing the Mission Road. Upon hearing her pleas for mercy on grounds that she was a widow, the Governor infamously retorted, "You are a widow, go and die."

According to a statement signed Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Peter Okhiria, "The Governor, who announced the job offer to the woman, in addition to a N2 million grant for her to get a shop and trade, said during a breakfast meeting with her at the Government House, yesterday, that her job would be to join State's War Against Indiscipline in the campaign against street trading and to keep the state clean."

The widow, Joy Ifije, was invited to the Edo Government House by the Governor who personally apologised to her over his uncomplimentary remark. She was accompanied to Government House by her sister Patience Ajayi and the landlord, Mr Omobude Osakpanwa.

"I am doing my best to see that we make Benin City a beautiful city that it was before. You see, when you send a lot of money, government money to try and beautify the city, to build roads and all that, you find the roads are not working, I get very angry. The second issue is that when you put your goods on the roads, the buses can run into you or like those that sales tomatoes or pepper, those things can be contaminated because of the exposure which is not good.

"That was why I said to you if you are a widow, do you want more people to be widows? But when I said go and die, I was really touched that I said that to you because I understand that looking at you, you are struggling but I was really angry, but I realized that even at anger I can achieve the same result without talking to you the way that I did.

"Let me apologise to you for the way I spoke to you, I am very sorry about the statement. I have also realised that even in anger, one could still achieve the same result that he set out to without provocative outburst. I apologise from the bottom of my heart, but sometimes you get angry when people compromise your efforts."

He noted that trading on the road and walk ways could hinder free flow of traffic as well as cause accidents. Also, exposing consumables to unhygienic sanitary conditions can cause "disease and pose dangerous health hazards to humans." Governor Oshiomhole asked Joy Ifije to join in the campaign against road- and walkways trading.

By announcing automatic employment to the widow, the Governor explained that the employment would help her ease the burden of widowhood and give her children good and proper education.

"For your child, who is preparing to enter into the university, my daughters and myself have agreed to support him. If he does well as we pray he does, he would assist the family. Maybe this is the way God wants it. That is why I asked them to look for you so that I can personally offer my apology, but also to support you, so that God helping you, you can overcome the pain of widowhood," the Governor said.

"As a single mother, I want to see how I can help you to train your children and God can use any of them to become a leader of our country. Please, resist the temptation to do anything that would break the law. The law is the law; it is no respecter of persons. If Government does not enforce the law, there would be confusion," he pleaded.

Mrs. Ifije, for her part, apologized to the Governor as well, saying, "I know I was wrong, that was why I quickly knelt down to beg when I realised I was face to face with the Governor."

According to her, she had been a victim of theft by a truck pusher who went away with her goods, a week before her encounter with the Governor. That was why she was on the road with her goods that day as she no longer trusted truck pushers not to do away with her goods.

She promised to work with the state government in its campaign against street trading and obstruction. She also promised to make judicious use of the money donated to her by the governor.