By Valentine Amanze
The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that the sight of the burnt hostel and the look of hopelessness on the faces of the students and staff of Patterson Memorial Grammar school, Onitsha prompted him to visit again to see how the students were fairing.
Obi spoke at the weekend when he paid another visit to Patterson Memorial Grammar School, which hostel was gutted by fire that claimed the life of one of the students.
Obi, who had earlier donated N1 million to assist in the re-building of the hostel, made a further donation of N1 million, with the promise to visit again in his resolve to be part of the re-building of the hostel.
The former governor also renewed his appeal to wealthy Nigerians to forgo some of the luxuries they indulged in and support value-adding societal institutions, like schools and hospitals.
Receiving Obi on behalf of Bishop Owen Nwokolo, the proprietor of the school and the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, the Principal of the school, Rev. Cajetan Anuforo, said that Anambra people and Nigerians had remained perplexed on what he called “Obi’s altruistic disposition to the society both in and out of government.”
Recalling his achievements as the governor of Anambra State, he prayed to God to enthrone leaders with the disposition and mindset of Obi to repay the nation wounded by many years of negligenceand poor leadership.
On behalf of the students, their Senior Prefect, Mgbemena Godwin, said that students had neither gold nor silver to offer Obi but only assurances of prayers for God’s continued protection.