On behalf of Mr. Athananasius Ugbome (Aka Wino), his wife, children, nuclear and extended family and hundreds of friends like us whom he gave huge amount of money to start business and life when we just came to Lagos after graduation in the early 1990s please permit us to use this medium to appeal to you to please have mercy and compassion on Mr. Ugbome and graciously release him to be reunited with his family and friends for the following reasons:
1. Although he was appointed by the Government of Edo State as a Senior Special Assistance (SSA) on Surveillance, We hate to inform you that the same government has completely abandoned him to his fate. We are in the know that his wife and elder brother have contacted the state Governor and other senior members of the Edo State Government by phone and text messages but neither the Governor nor any representative of the Edo State Government has replied, called back or contacted the wife or any member of the Ugbome family for that matter.
The Governor and his government are totally unconcerned about his predicament and ordeal and they are not showing any interest nor making any effort to ensure his freedom. They have left him and his family to carry the cross and of course God has forewarned us that the arm of flesh will always fail us.
2. According to his medical Doctor and family, he suffers chronic ulcer and hypertension and he is therefore at all times material with his prescribed medications, eating prescribed meals and in strict adherence to healthy lifestyle until this unfortunate incident. We therefore fear greatly for his health and appeal to you to please release him unharmed, free him from pressure so that he can have access to his medications, good food and responsible lifestyle.
3. He is one of the world greatest philanthropists, helpers, volunteers and humanitarians and we have no modicum of doubt that everyone who have come in contact with him especially in the early 1990s to 2000s like us when he was well-off, where positively affected by his unparalleled and infectious generosity, kind heart and good spirit.
That is why unlike the Edo State Government that Mr.Ugbome has served conscientiously, loyally and with major adjustment and sacrifice but yet have abandoned him, some of his good friends are coming together with their Widows-mite and we are using this avenue to strongly appeal to you to kindly accept whatever amount we are able to raise and RELEASE HIM TO FREEDOM because of the pervasive poverty and hardship- times are truly hard for Nigerians and alot of people we were hoping to help with money are not forthcoming.
Kindly advise how we can get the little amount of money we have offered and now raising to you expeditiously so that you can GIVE FREEDOM AND RELEASE OUR FRIEND ATHANASIUS UGBOME IN THE NAME OF GOD.
4. If you kill him as you have threatened, we are sure a careless Gov. Oshiomhole and his government who has shut out Mr. Ugbome family won’t waste time to replace him. We are reliably informed Gov. Oshiomhole is in Texas, United States now.
Please have mercy on him. The struggle to raise this money is not easy. If Mr. Ugbome is rich and enjoying the government of Edo State he won’t be using Toyota Hilux as his official and private car. Have mercy on this extremely generous, kindhearted and good Athanasius and God will bless you for sparing his life. Thank you so much sir.
SIGNED BY:
Friends of Mr. Athananasius Ugbome world-wide.
The kind hearted Mr. Athananasius Ugbome who is one of the world greatest philanthropist, generous helper, volunteer and humanitarian was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Edo State in the poverty stricken and lawless Nigeria around 3:30 pm on Friday August 23, 2013 along the Benin-Auchi Road while on his way to his hometown, Ugbekpe-Ekperi when he was kidnapped. Four other persons including popular lawyer Mike Ozekhome SAN were also taken along. Four police officers, including an assistant superintendent of police and an inspector, were killed in their bid to rescue the kidnap victims. The kidnappers were said to have laid ambush for their vehicle and shot at them.