Skip to main content

Issues in Okorocha’s auto crash

CHIDIEBERE IWUOHA writes on the mixed feelings that greeted the recent auto crash involving the Imo state governor, Owelle  Rochas Okorocha
Penultimate Friday, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, narrowly escaped death in an auto crash that involved his convoy. The accident occurred at Orlu when the governor was returning from an inspection tour of some projects within the state.
Earlier in the day, he had inspected some projects in Owerri, the state capital, especially the drainages on Wetheral Road which his government decided to cover to avoid the menace of mosquitoes and also prevent people from throwing garbage into the drainages. The governor was there to ascertain the level of work done on the project.
While he was walking along the road with his entourage, he seized the opportunity to inform residents and shop owners of his government’s new programme “Fix Your Front” aimed at preventing shop owners and residents from mounting extensions or projections at the lintels of their shop buildings or houses and also prevent them from bringing out their wares outside to destroy the aesthetic outlook of the road.
As expected, some people accepted the message, while others took it with a pitch of salt. Nevertheless, Okorocha continued with his message until he got to the end of the road around Naze junction.
Later in the day, the inspection tour took him to Orlu, where the significant part of the tax payers’ money was spent on projects in the area and while returning to Owerri, a Mercedez Benz 200 ran into his convoy, at Umuowa, and had a head-on collision with his official vehicle. The accident attracted attention as people within the vicinity rushed out and wondered what must have gone amiss. The governor, according to information put together, sustained a minor injury just as the owner of the Mercedez Benz, who drove the car, Hon. Osita Nnawuihe equally sustained injury.
While Okorocha was later flown abroad for medical examination, Nnawuihe, who sustained similar injury was arrested and detained by the police without giving him medical attention until when his wife, Mrs. Calista Nnawuihe raised alarm and called for his immediate release and the need to give him adequate medical treatment as done to the governor as against remanding him in police custody.
It was gathered that Nnawuihe, who was a councillor of Awo-nmamma Ward I in Oru East Local Government Area some years back, on that fateful day, went to Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area to drop off his two daughters who had visited at the weekend. He was on his way back when the accident occurred near St. Mary’s Seminary, Umuowa, Orlu.
Briefing newsmen on the development minutes after, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Musa Katsina, reiterated that the governor was on inspection tour of projects when the incident happened. He said; “Now, he is normal and in a stable condition. He just had a minor injury on the head and the man in the other vehicle is also normal. As I am talking to you now, my Accident Investigation Team is already on ground. They are trying to determine the immediate or remote cause of the accident. As soon as we get the details, I will call you for further briefing.”
Katsina further said that after the accident, the governor was referred to a local hospital for preliminary medical assessment, after which he was considered fit and taken back to the Government House.
“We were at the Government House to receive him. While we were receiving him, he was cheerful and full of smiles. So, we thank God. To God be the glory”; he concluded.
Okorocha, who had earlier briefed journalists at the Government House, recalled the incident and confirmed he had some bruises on his forehead, adding that it was after the accident that he went to a private hospital in Orlu where he had medical attention.
He was however not in the mood for questions and answers, but seized the debunked the story which made the rounds on that day that he sustained a gunshot wound.
According to Okorocha; “It was an auto crash following a head on collision.”
His personal physician, Dr. Sylvester Igwe, also told journalists that the governor had what he described as “minor laceration of the scalp”, adding that what the governor needed was another medical examination to determine the extent of the injury. Okorocha later left the country for further medical attention abroad.
Pathetic as the incident was, residents of the state received the news with mixed feelings. While some naturally expressed shock and worry over the development, others believed the accident was staged managed.
For instance, a respondent, who simply identified himself as Emeka, said the governor paid “for his executive recklessness,” saying “there is need for state officials to drive cautiously while on the road in the interest of the people they claim to serve.”
On the other hand, another resident of Owerri, Mr. Alex Eze described the accident as the handiwork of evil men who never wished the state well.
“They wanted to stop the governor’s good works by terminating his life, so as to move into the Government House in 2015. Thank God that their wish never materialized.”
For once, the opposition refused to play politics with the accident as they sympathized with Okorocha on the tragic incident.
In its reaction, the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Blyden Amajirionwu described the development as unfortunate and wished the governor  quick recovery.
Similarly, the state chairman of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Mr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe said; “The party received with shock the sad news of the motor accident involving the governor of Imo State, Chief Anayo Rochas Okorocha on Friday, April 19 2013 while on official duty.”
While praying God to grant the governor strength and speedy recovery, he sympathized with the governor’s immediate family and entire people of the state.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inside Africa

August 20,2013 Divided Egyptians united in grief Many people across Egypt have been burying their dead following the violence of recent weeks The recent violence in Egypt has claimed the lives of people on both sides of the country's political divide. But while the bloodshed is polarising the country further, grief is one thing uniting them, says the BBC's Ahmed Maher. Here in Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, it was a tragedy that left the family of Ahmed Qadri devastated. Mr Qadri was shot twice in his chest and abdomen as security forces launched a brutal crackdown on the Brotherhood supporters camping outside Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo on 14 August. A senior Muslim Brotherhood leader in his hometown, Mr Qadri is survived by a wife and three children. His 22-year-old eldest son, Fidaa, says he will not get over the death of his father for the rest of his life. Fighting back tears, Fidaa said he mad...
Post a Comment
Read more

News

August 19, 2013 We heard fire victims cry for help –Residents   Ekene   Neighbours of a family that perished in an inferno in a building located in Shagari Estate, Lagos State, said they heard the victims’ cries for help. PUNCH Metro had reported last week Thursday that a family of five lost their lives after  fire engulfed their three-bedroom apartment in the early hours of Wednesday. The victims of the fire were the mother, Mrs Anwuzia, the children, Ekene 16, and Emeka 17, an aunt, identified only as Philomena, and another yet-to-be- identified man. It was learnt that the father was not at home when the incident occurred. A friend of the children, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said he was talking to one of the victims when the incident happened. He said, “Around 11.30pm that day, I was chatting with Ekene on the telephone and after sometime, she stopped responding. I was later told by another fr...
Post a Comment
Read more
My Level Has Changed. Ace comic actor, Hafiz Oyetoro spoke with GBENRO ADESINA about the challenges he faced before his breakthrough. How far have you gone with your Ph.D programme at the University of Ibadan (UI)? I am still on it. This is my second year. I am currently doing some field work. I hope to round off the field work by the end of this year. Afterwards, I will start writing. How are you combining it with your tight schedule? Everybody knows what he wants in life. You have to create time to do all the things you want to do and that is why everyone must be good in managing his or her time. Definitely, scale of preference will come in. No one has time to combine many necessary and important things but one has to create time to achieve one’s dream. You did an advert for Etisalat and all of a sudden, you switched over to MTN. Why did you switch from Etisalat to MTN? I will not want to say anything about that for now. Please, do not let us go there. It is no go ...
Post a Comment
Read more