A 31-year-old footballer in Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ernest, reportedly drowned on October 19, 2022, after rescuing five passengers of a boat that capsized in Yenagoa. His younger brother, Ebisine, shares his grief with ALEXANDER OKERE
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Ebisine Ernest. I am 25 years old. I am a footballer. I play for a grassroots football club in Port Harcourt. It is called the Cardinal Football Club.
How are you related to the late footballer,Peremobowei Ernest?
He was my elder brother. I am the last child of my mother.
How many siblings do you have?
My mother is the first wife of my father. She had 10 children. We lost one of my elder brothers when I was a baby.
How old was Peremobowei?
He was 31.
Was he married with kids?
Yes, he was married with three kids.
What was his occupation?
He was a businessman and at the same time, played football. He had a point-of-sale business that he opened for his wife. He also had a commercial tricycle that he used to ride after playing football in the morning.
Was he a graduate?
Yes. He studied Political Science part-time at the Niger Delta University.
It was reported that he drowned after rescuing five persons when the boat they were on capsized. Can you confirm that?
Yes, that was what happened.
When did it happen?
It happened on Wednesday night (October 19, 2022)
Where exactly did the incident occur?
It happened at the Federal Medical Centre Waterside, Yenagoa.
Was he also a passenger on the boat?
Yes. He was the sixth person on that boat.
Was he the only person who did not survive?
Yes.
Can you explain how the incident occurred?
He lived in a small village where a boat was needed to get to his house. When his house was submerged by the flood, he took his family to a refugee camp and offered to help some stranded people to cross over from the village. When he carried them, the current was too much so he lost control of the boat and the current pushed them toward a barge. When the boat hit the barge, it (boat) sank immediately. There were people around watching what was happening. They saw him bringing out the passengers from the water one after the other and putting them on the barge but suddenly, they did not see him again. One of the boys he rescued said he was the last person pulled out of the water. He said when he could not find Peremobowei, he started shouting that somebody was missing but before people came and started using boats to search for Peremobowei, he was already gone.
Do you know who the other passengers are?
I know two of them. One of them was like an assistant to him, always helping him out.
Where was he headed on that day?
He had just finished working with his tricycle and was returning home.
Did you have any conversation with him before he left for work or on his way home?
He called me the night before the incident happened. He usually fondly called me “last born” and sends money to me without telling me he would. He said, “Last born, I sent you something (money). Have you received it?” When I checked and saw it, I called back to inform him. That was the last time I heard from him.
How did you know that he was missing?
Someone called me on the night of the incident. I was in Port Harcourt when I received the call about 30 minutes after the incident happened. The incident happened at 10pm. I was sleeping when I heard my phone ringing. The caller asked me whether I was aware of what happened to Peremobowei. As soon as I told the person that I was not aware, he ended the call. When I called the person back, he told me that people were shouting that Peremobowei was missing. How? I had to call my other brother to rush down to Peremobowei’s house and check. He left immediately for Peremobowei’s house and called back to confirm that he was really missing and that the whole place was crowded. As soon as I heard that, I started crying. I could not sleep that night. When I called my brother who went to Peremobowei’s house the next day, he told me that he (Peremobowei) had not been found. I had hoped that the current probably pushed him to a place and that he held on to something. He was not found on Thursday.
When was his body found?
It was on Friday morning that his body was found floating.
Do you know the exact location where his body was found?
Yes. It was found at the same spot where he fell.
Is it true that his body was not intact when it was found?
Yes. When his body floated, it had some cuts on the head, face, mouth, and stomach. It looked like he was struggling to come out of the water.
Do you suspect that an animal could have mutilated the body?
No. I think he must have hit the barge when he tried to come out of the water because it was already dark. The cuts on his forehead, face, lips, and stomach were deep. He was a very good swimmer, so I think he got exhausted after saving the passengers. He rescued the youngest passenger, a little boy, first.
What went through your mind when you saw his body?
Hmmnnn, at first, I was confused. Everything about me was empty. I didn’t even know what to think at that moment because I spoke with Peremobowei the night before he died. My other brother who I told to help me confirm whether Peremobowei was missing told me they were together at about 7pm on that day before he said he was going home. His body floated without his shirt, trousers and a small bag he had on that day; it had only his shorts. I believe he tried to save himself and be as light as possible by removing his clothes but in the process, he got exhausted and gave up.
Where is his body now?
It is in a mortuary. We cannot bury him now because of the flood. We are planning to do that in December.
Nigerians believe your brother died heroically, having saved the lives of four persons. Is this something he has done before or is known for?
That was the kind of person he was. That was his lifestyle. He always put others first before his interest. There was a time I was in his house and a man came knocking at about 1am and pleading for his assistance because his wife was in labour. I knew full well that Peremobowei’s tricycle had a faulty tyre but he had to take the woman to a hospital and on our way back, the tyre exploded and came off. That is the kind of person he is. He likes helping people and he is well-known for that.
As a footballer who was the joint top-goal scorer at the Bayelsa Governor Football Tournament, also known as Prosperity Cup, did he share his aspiration with you, in terms of what he had hoped to achieve with football?
Playing football had always been his thing. He loved football so much. He used to tell me that if he did not make it playing football, he would make sure I did. It was after he died that I got to know that he had been invited to represent Bayelsa at a sports festival and that he had been called to resume training and that he had been told to provide jersey and boot sizes.
Where are his wife and children?
His wife and children are with my mother.
Was his wife immediately informed about his death?
I think everybody was informed the day he went missing. She has not been herself lately; she has not been able to eat. I heard that my mother passed out when she was told.
Has your late brother been buried?
Yes. We buried him on December 10 (2022) in our home in Delta State. It (the burial) went well. There were representatives from his (football) club. His friends were also there. It was a Christian burial. We made branded T-shirts that had his photo and favourite jersey number.
What was his favourite jersey number?
His favourite jersey number was 14.
Are his children aware that he has passed on?
No. His eldest child, a boy, is just three years old and the girl is one year old.
Have they been asking about their dad?
Yes, especially the boy. Each time he sees me, the first thing he says is, “Uncle, I want to meet daddy.”
What do you tell him?
I just smile and tell him that his dad travelled. It breaks my heart.
It was reported that his children were offered scholarships by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar. Can you confirm that?
Yes. When we went to the Government House (in Bayelsa State), Atiku promised them a scholarship. We were very happy. It felt like some parts of our expenses had been lifted but since then, we have not heard from him. We have been trying to connect to him but there has been no response.
Did he or any member of his campaign team tell your family how to reach him?
Yes, we were given a phone number. The last time we communicated with them, we were told to confirm the schools and the contact of their management but we have not heard from them since then.
When was that?
That was in December (2022).
What kind of scholarship did he offer?
The scholarship covers (the children’s) primary, secondary and university education.
Have the children returned to school?
We want to enrol them in different schools, so they are not in school. Hopefully, they will soon. We have not heard from (Atiku’s team) regarding the scholarship, we are thinking of taking care of their education.
The only appeal I have is that they should, please, keep to their word. We would be grateful. I appeal to the state government to help the family. The children are not aware their father is dead. They are babies. Peremobowei lost everything in his house.
Has your family received any information from the state or local government concerning your brother’s death?
No. we have yet to see anybody. I have not seen any official but some of the passengers he rescued came to condole with us. I don’t know what to say about that. I am appealing to the Bayelsa State Government to help us out.
What do you want the state government to do to honour your late brother?
I appeal to the state government to help the family out by providing scholarships for his children and do every other thing they can. The children are not aware their father is dead. They are babies. Peremobowei lost everything in his house.
