Mercy Blankson, widow of the late Joe Blankson, who drowned in July 2018 after saving 13 passengers in a boat mishap along the Abonnema-Bakana waterway in Rivers State says the Rivers State Government is yet to fulfill its promise of N50 million endowment fund for his kids, and a job for her about three years after the incident occurred.
Mrs Blankson who disclosed this in an interview with The Punch, also stated that the Federal Government merely presented a plaque to her in memory of her late husband and attached nothing to help with the well-being of the family he left behind.
She said every attempt made to get the Rivers State Government to fulfill its promises has since been futile, adding that the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, also recently promised the Federal Government will reach out to her after the recognition by President Buhari, but nothing has also been heard of from that end.
“Even when he (the Rivers State Governor) made those promises, I actually tried to follow up to see if they could offer me an employment like he said, and scholarship for my children, but nothing has happened till now. I understand that he is busy, but I just pray that God will still touch him to fulfil his promises in terms of the scholarship and the job.
“I wrote different letters to him through the Secretary to the State Government, through the Deputy Governor—through Her Excellency. I also wrote to the then Degema Local Government Area Chairman that took me there. I even tried to meet them one by one. It was still the same old story of “We will see what we will do about that.” Till date, nothing has been done.
“Well, I am not supposed to be happy though, but based on the fact that the award came when it came, I am glad that he was being recognised for his selfless act; I am happy about that. I even wished that the whole thing would bring him back, which is not possible. I am glad that he was recognised by the President after many years. So, I’m happy and grateful for the award.
“Well, nothing has come for now. But when I met Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Minister of Information and Culture), he said they would get back to me. But they didn’t give me anything. Nothing was attached; it was just a normal award, a plaque.”
Blankson left behind two kids and his widow.
