Vice-Presidential Candidate of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP),Mr. Peter Obi,has described the recent burning of the hostel of Patterson Grammar School, Awada, Onitsha, Anambra State, owned and managed by the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, as a national calamity which should be treated as such.

Obi said this during his visit to the school soon after the fire incident that gutted one of their hostels and claimed the life of one of the students.

The former Anambra State Governor said he had watched with sadness where incidents that did not have much impact were designated as “national calamities”, while the country’s leaders do not view the burning of schools with the seriousness it deserves.

He observed that if it were to be in countries that knew the value of education, all manner of organisations would have visited the school and offered their support.

While donating the initial sum of a million Naira as support for the rebuilding of the school, Obi promised that he would come back to offer more assistance.

Earlier, Obi had visited Ekwulumili to condole with the families of one of the students that lost his life in the inferno.

In his remarks, the Bishop on the Niger, Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo, represented by the principal of the school, Rev. Dr. Cajetan Anuforo, thanked Obi for his consistent love and support for education nationwide. While urging other Nigerians to emulate his life of service, he beckoned on him to assist in bringing the issue of Merritt at the front burner of the national consciousness.

• PHOTO: Peter Obi presenting the initial Cheque of 1 Million Naira as support for the re-building of Patterson Memorial Grammar School, Awada, Onitsha, owned and managed by the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, but was recently gutted by fire.