A
50-year-old man, Chief Ekanem Edet, has taken his life at Mbiabong Itam in Itu
Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and left a suicide note blaming
President Muhammadu Buhari. Residents of Mbiabong Itam were shocked to discover
the body
of the former secretary of the Mbiabong Village Council dangling on
the suspended rope from the roof of his house.
Edet,
popularly called Jolly Boy, blamed his decision to commit suicide on the
prevailing hardship which had taken a toll on his life since the nation’s leaders
on May 29, 2015. A few days before his death, the father of two was complaining
of the current economic crunch which had impacted on the living standard of the
masses.
Edet,
who was selling Ogogoro (local gin), cigarettes and other stimulants, according
to family source, decided to take his life when it appeared he could no longer
run his small family with the meagre earnings from his business.
“He was
a very sociable man and always shared his thoughts on issues. I don’t know why
he should consider suicide as the last option to escape from these hard times.
Only
God knows,” Okon Effiong, a close associate of the deceased, told journalists.
Effiong said Edet’s body was discovered by his friend, who went to visit him
that fateful day. His wife and two sons, it was gathered, had gone out at the
time the man committed suicide.
“Later
in the day, his friend came to check on him, only to discover that his longtime
friend and confidant had killed himself,” Mfonobong Ekpe, a teacher in the
neighbourhood, told our correspondent. Although our correspondent did not see
the note, some relatives said the former village secretary left a suicide note
blaming the president for inflicting unbearable pains and hardship on the
people.
“He
used to complain that his petty business was no longer fetching him enough
money to take care of his basic needs such as food and clothing for his family
as well as pay his children’s school fees.
“He was
always blaming Buhari for his economic policies that do not allow the common people
to afford basic commodities like garri, bread, yam, rice, beans, oil and
kerosene and other essential goods,” Asuquo Bassey, a pastor at the local
church said. According to him, the family was reluctant to call the police when
it discovered the sad incident because of the suicide note which indicated that
Edet took his own life.
When
contacted on the phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),
Cordelia Nwawe, said her office was yet to be briefed on the incident. On
Monday evening a man attempted to commit suicide by jumping into Mile 2 River,
Lagos. The man, who was later rescued by some divers in a speed boat,
reportedly shout “Buhari, Buhari, Buhari,” jumped into the river.
“Buhari’s
government has finished me and my business. I can’t afford to live anymore.
Bye, bye to Nigeria,” he was quoted as saying. When he was rescued, the
emergency unit from the Lagos State government gave him first aid. The man was
too weak to talk.
New
Telegraph Newspaper.
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