A popular
sports coach and fitness trainer in Cross River State, Paul Banigo slumped and
died in UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday November 4th.
Below is the
account by Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke, CRS Sports Commission...
"He
jogged into the UJ Esuene Stadium in the morning to keep a rendezvous with the
members of the public and sundry state Athletes, who had adopted him as their
personal coach and Aerobics Instructor. However, today's rendezvous turned out
to be with death.
As coach
Paul Banigo was putting together his exercise tools, he slumped and cried for
help, but none was rendered. All those present, initially ran to different
compass directions, for sundry reasons. Paul Banigo died.
The Stadium
Clinic is not functional and I am working with the Hon Commissioner for Health
to remedy this anomaly.
Today's
tragedy caught us by surprise and came to us at a time that we are financially
unstable. Since no hospital would accept Coach Banigo's Corpse without the
requisite financial commitment, we were left in a quandary. But initial help
came our way through ex Gov Donald Duke and his wife Onari... (God bless Their
Benevolent Souls). Mrs Duke reached out to the Navy Hospital, Calabar and they
agreed to receive the body for "autopsy and embalmment".
We have
visited the hospital for the third time this night, the Corpse is in good hands
and His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade has been briefed accordingly and the
needful will be done.
As a staff
of the CRS, Paul had taken up the extra responsibility of taking up those who
had recently been dislocated from using the House of Assembly hill for exercise
purposes, due to recent security concerns. On the fateful Saturday morning, Paul
died on duty, on official duty. But when he fell, initial help could not be
rendered. Not even a CPR? So sad.
The 8 years
relegation of the Sports Commission created the rot... No Ambulances, offices,
buses,facilities etc. The process of rebuilding the infrastructure and
repositioning sports is on and it is "work in progress".
The CRS
Governor will fund and staff the UJ Esuene Stadium Clinic, we are committed to
work with the Commissioner for Health, SA Budget and the CRSHA to achieve this
with the 2018 Budget.
No avoidable
tragedy should befall us again in CRS Sports family. Never Again.
Rest in
Peace Coach Paul Banigo.
Rt. Hon.
Orok Otu Duke JP
Chairman,
CRS Sports
Commission.
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