The lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo has pledged to sponsor the education of the most affected children of the victims of the recent boat mishap from their present level to the university.

Oko-Jumbo, who made this pledge on Friday, January 12, 2023 when he met with the bereaved families and the people of Agiokolo II in Finima Community, also donated the sum of N500,000 to the bereaved families and assured them of his unwavering support during this their period of grief.

The boat mishap, which occurred on Monday, January 8, 2024 at the Bonny Anchorage on the Bonny River, claimed the lives of six women and five children.

He extended his condolences, particularly, to the man who lost five children and his boat, which is the source of his livelihood to the incident, saying that the incident was beyond sad.

He expressed his inability to totally console the family as he is sure the families are inconsolable from the loss, assuring, however, that all misfortunes can be redressed when humans put their trust in God.

The lawmaker assured them that he would always support them in thoughts and prayers, further assuring them of God’s ability to heal their broken hearts and comfort them, promising to ensure that the lines of communication between him and the families are always open to ensure ease of communication.

“I sympathized with them, assuring that my thought and prayers would always be with them, and I am open to unhindered communication with them, while expressing hopes that God will graciously heal the broken hearted.”

Oko-Jumbo also conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the immediate past Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ehie Edison, PhD, who he said is saddened by the unfortunate occurrence.

In the same vein, he thanked a former House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fubara Hart, Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, and Amasenibo Christopher Hart, who donated N500,000, N300,000 and N100,000, respectively in support of the grieving families.

“I as well, donated N500,000 to the immediate families of the victims, just as Amaopusenibo Fubara Hart, Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple and Amasenibo Christopher Hart all donated N500,000, N300,000 and N100,000 respectively in support of the grieving families. I thank them immensely for the utmost show of solidarity.”

Jumbo also expressed his gratitude to the different government functionaries, stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and community leaders that joined him as he embarked on the visit, praying God to bless them for ensuring that the bereaved families felt loved and had a sense of belonging during their time of grief.

Kiridabo of Agiokolo II in Finima Community, Sunny Brown was on hand to receive his entourage which included the Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly, Larry Ibaningo, and some of his colleagues, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny LGA, Isobonye Tobin, and several party stalwarts.