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Enugu tanker explosion: How family of 11 perished on their way to burial ceremony
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The fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Saturday at the Ugwu Onyeama in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State has wiped out the lives of a family of eleven who were natives of Abofia Agbaja in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The bereaved brother of the victims, Mr Ikechukwu Nwaji, who spoke with an online newspaper amidst tears on Monday, said that the fuel tanker explosion claimed the entire family of Jeremiah Nwaji in their private Sienna while they were on the way to Ebonyi for their late father’s burial.
Ikechukwu Nwaji narrated that Jeremiah was on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State, with his six children, wife, brother and his servants to the village when their Sienna vehicle ignited fire from the explosion that burnt them to ashes.
He disclosed that the victim, who was the bread winner of the family, conveyed the entire family with his friend’s Sienna given to him to enable them carry all their belongings as the deceased’s father was slated to be buried the next Friday.
Ikechukwu called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to ban the movement of tankers carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as fuel, and gas during the day. He lamented that many families have lost their loved ones in similar avoidable situation.
His words: “It was disheartening that we lost eleven members of the family in a controllable situation involving my eldest brother and bread winner of our family, his wife, six children who are among a twin, our last born, our brother’s house help and servants.
“They were in Sienna vehicle coming to Ebonyi State from Anambra where the incident occurred and were coming for our father’s burial which was scheduled to come this week Friday before his own dead leaving the family with two siblings as my mother gave birth to four males.
“As done in advanced countries, our family is pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit the policy that stipulated that tankers should only move by night as seen before that drivers moved from 9:00 O’clock in the night till early morning where they pack to continue the next day, seeing the havoc it is causing in our country.”
On her part, the bereaved sister and a widow, Mrs Chiamaka Onyibe, narrated that the victim was the one paying her children’s school fees since she lost her husband. She lamented that the family has lost their divine helper coupled with the fact that they were relocated to the family house by now-late brother since she lost her husband.
The deceased who was identified as a class mate (2004 set) of the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, was one of his campaign coordinators before his death.
Credit: Newsexpress
… FCT Minister challenges ex-Rivers governor over stalled projects, 24-year public record
… Questions N10bn anti-malaria fumigation spending, electoral claims
… Says political leadership should empower, not pull others down
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, challenging him to account for major projects and expenditures incurred during his administration.
Wike made the statements on Saturday, during a visit to the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike, who spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council as well as leaders and stakeholders of Ahoada East and West Local Governments, Rivers State at the Ekpeye House in Ahoada, was reacting to Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday evening.
Amaechi, a former governor and Minister of Transportation, had criticised the Federal Government over its record of project delivery and challenged the administration to name major projects it had completed.
But Wike turned the spotlight on his predecessor’s record in Rivers, questioning what became of several projects initiated under Amaechi.
He specifically raised questions over the $39 million reportedly paid for the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the N68 billion monorail project and about N10 billion allegedly spent on an anti-malaria fumigation programme.
Wike asked what became of the money committed to the hospital project after the facility was not completed.
The controversy over the hospital dates back to the Amaechi administration.
A Rivers State judicial commission set up under Wike had investigated the payment of $39.2 million to a contractor for the project and its failure to materialise.
Wike also questioned the fate of the monorail project, which was among the major infrastructure schemes initiated by the Amaechi administration, as well as the expenditure on the fumigation programme.
He went further to criticize a $10 million malaria control project that was executed with Cuba to eradicate mosquitoes in the state, dismissing the initiative as a scam.
“Ask him about the fumigation of Rivers State with people from Cuba in which $10 million was spent. Ask him whether mosquitoes have stopped biting us in Rivers State,” he said.
The FCT Minister said such issues should be considered when assessing the records of political leaders seeking higher office.
Wike also challenged Amaechi’s record after spending eight years each as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor and Minister of Transportation.
“Someone was Speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years, that is 24 years in top leadership positions. What can anybody point to that he attracted to Ekpeye Land in all those 24 years? Nothing! Not one single thing!” he said.
The minister urged the people of Ahoada East and West Local Governments to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment allegedly attracted to the area during Amaechi’s years in public office.
Wike said leadership should not be measured only by the offices occupied but by the people empowered, projects delivered and structures left behind.
He contrasted this with what he described as his own efforts to empower people and develop political successors, saying leaders should not deliberately prevent others from rising.
Wike also criticised what he described as the use of personal and family tragedies for political purposes.
He said political disagreements should not descend into the exploitation of private grief, particularly matters surrounding the death of family members.
The minister warned against a political culture in which personal tragedies are deployed to gain sympathy or attack opponents.
Wike further challenged claims about Amaechi’s political influence in Rivers State, asking supporters to examine his electoral record.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” he said.
The minister also recalled their political relationship and past disagreements, including controversies surrounding appointments and business interests involving federal maritime agencies.
He contrasted what he described as Amaechi’s approach with the Tinubu administration’s establishment of regional development structures and appointments involving people from the South-South.
His latest comments deepen the long-running political feud between the two former Rivers leaders, who once worked together before becoming major political rivals.
News
Wike opens can of worms, queries Amaechi over what happened to $39m Justice Karibi-Whyte hospital, others (Video)
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Nyesom Wike has queried, Rotimi Amaechi over what happened to $39million Justice Karibi-Whyte hospital, N68billion Monorail, N10billion anti-malaria fumigation projects.
The minister made this disclosure during his visit to Ekpeye Kingdom Ekpeye House, in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers State on Saturday.
Watch:
News
Grand reception for FCT minister Wike at Ekpeye Kingdom on a visit to Uzugbani NEC, in Ahoada LGA today (VIDEO)
A video showing the grand reception for FCT minister Nyesom Wike as he arrives at Ekpeye Kingdom for a visit to the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council, Ekpeye House, in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers State today.
Watch:
Wike tackles Amaechi: Account for $39m Hospital, N68bn Monorail, N10bn anti-malaria fumigation
Wike opens can of worms, queries Amaechi over what happened to $39m Justice Karibi-Whyte hospital, others (Video)
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