A bed-ridden victim of Wednesday’s bomb attack at the EMAB Plaza, Wuse II Abuja, Solomon Tesso, on Friday cried out for a job from President Goodluck Jonathan during the president’s visit to the Maitama General Hospital to commiserate with survivors.
The victim, who spoke in pidgin English, told the president that he was caught by the blast as he struggled to make ends meet by selling GSM recharge cards, having left school years ago and unable to find a regular job.
He said he had not been able to sleep since he was brought to the hospital and was now agonizing over what lay ahead of him in his present condition.
“Na recharge card I dey sell for Banex Plaza. I no get job. See what I am going through; since yesterday I no fit sleep. I finish school since, no job. I can’t go and steal; na recharge card I de sell, Sir. If people can help me to start better business, to start my life again…”
The president, however, did not respond directly to his request but only said he was happy that the victim survived the attack.
“We are happy you are alive. Thank God you are alive,” Jonathan said.
The president had cut short his trip to the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of States and Governments in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, because of the bomb attack.
Before visiting the Maitama General Hospital, he had inspected the scene of the blast to see things for himself, after which he vowed that the perpetrators of the attack would be punished.
Accompanied by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, and other top government officials, Jonathan arrived there at about 11.10 a.m. and was briefed on the incident by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.