By Jude Michael
The Anambra State Government has announced plans to pick the hospital bill of one Mr Okechukwu Akeneme who was brutalized by agents of the state while on revenue drive.
Mr Akaneme, a former chairman of Onitsha Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), and Chairman of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, recently had his neck and spinal cord broken by some agents of the Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA), during a disagreement over refusal to pay waste bill.
Though the agents had initially dismissed Akaneme’s claim of being sick, describing it as a pretence, the senior citizen was first moved to a hospital in Onitsha and later to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), which later referred him to Memphis Hospital in Enugu.
It was gathered that his health had deteriorated, just as he has incurred about N20million bill.
His situation had led to an uproar among members of the public, with many calling on the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene.
Meanwhile, during its state executive meeting on Tuesday, the Anambra State Government resolved to pick the bill.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, who disclosed this in a press release, said the resolution became feasible after Government sent a fact finding team to visit the victim.
He said: ‘The 37th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) Meeting received the report of the fact-finding team sent by the Soludo Government to the victim of brutality by some contractors of ASWAMA, Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme, who is hospitalised in Enugu.
‘In response to the report, the Council resolved to pick up the medical expenses of Mr Okechukwu Akaneme, while sympathising with his family and praying for his quick recovery.’
The release announced the award of more roads in the state, including three in Nnewi, which is regarded as the industrial town of the state, by the Executive Council.
