Ohaji-Egbema Tragedy: Ihedioha Breaks Silence; Says Disaster Avoidable; Calls for Investigation

By Charles Igbo

For the first time since the Supreme Court removed him from office as Governor, and declared Senator Hope Uzodimma the duly elected Governor, former Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, has reacted to a tragic incident in the State.

Ihedioha had kept sealed lips over the unprecedented insecurity, a consequence of the activities of “unknown” gunmen in the State, which has precipitated loss of scores of lives, rivers of blood, arson, and loss of properties – public and private – worth hundreds of millions of Naira.

A number of people, worried about Ihedioha’s silence attributed it to the wrong belief held in some quarters that it is “Governor Uzodimma/APC business.”

But on Monday, April 25, 2022,  Ihedioha broke his long silence and associated himself with the pains of the people.

In a Press Release signed on his behalf by his Spokesperson, Chibuike Onyeukwu, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, lamented the loss of scores of lives at the illegal refinery at Abaezi in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area.

He described the disaster as “unfortunate and avoidable” and called for an investigation into the incident. He also called for sanctions against the culprits.

Onyeukwu’s Press Release reads:

“His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON has received with a rude shock and sadness, the news of the fire outbreak that claimed over 100 lives and property, Friday, at an illegal refinery located at Abaeze in Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State.

“Hon. Ihedioha describes the incident as ‘unfortunate and avoidable, while calling for full investigation and prosecution of all those behind the carnage to avert future occurrence.’

He said, ‘This is one loss too many. My heart bleeds for the victims, families and affected communities of this unfortunate and avoidable disaster.’

“It is a period of grief and sober reflection for our State, which has been bedeviled by insecurity and other challenges”.

While calling for a deliberate action to nip the increasing activities of illegal refinery and bunkering in the state, His Excellency enjoins citizens to take adequate precautions and avoid activities that will expose them to danger or risk of losing their lives and property.

Another former Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, had, also, in an earlier statement, lamented the sad situation, and called for a full investigation.