It was yet another sad day in Anambra State on Sunday, when a trailer killed a man, wife and the son.
The deceased six –month old baby boy, four –year old brother and seven-year old sister however survived.
The incident which occurred between 12 noon and 1pm at Esther Obiakor junction in Agu Awka along the Onitsha-Enugu expressway attracted many sympathizers.
People were seen wailing, lamenting and cursing the trailer driver for being the cause of the accident.
The driver, according to an eye witness, ran away immediately the incident occurred. The accident involved a trailer with registration number LSR 897XQ, while the number plate of the ash –coloured Toyota Camry car was not seen.
An eye witness who spoke with the Nation identified as Chijiuoke, said the people were flagging down the lorry when he was speeding, but he refused to slow down.
He said that the Camry vehicle was heading towards Enugu direction and trying to cross the other way at the junction when the trailer lost control and fell on the car.
The owner of the Camry car, Mr. Okechukwu Odinigwe, who died on the spot along side the wife and the eldest son, hails from Urunnebo village in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of the State.
The three surviving children, two boys and a girl, were rushed to Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka for treatment by men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.
When the Nation visited the hospital on Sunday, the survivors were seen at the intensive care unit, while the doctors were still battling to save their lives.
Also at the scene of the incident, some policemen and FRSC men were seen going through some of the documents in the vehicles.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Uche Eze confirmed the incident and another one that happened at Okpu River in Okija in Ihilala Logal Government Area where a driver of L 300 bus lost his life.
He said investigations were still ongoing by the command in other to unravel the cause of the accidents and identities of the victims.
The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has condoled the family of the victims of the ghastly motor accident.
Saddened by the development, Obiano has undertaken to pay all medical bills to be incurred by the surviving trio, who were receiving treatment at the Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka.
Expressing his condolence for the lives lost, Obiano assured Ndi Anambra that he would ensure safety of lives and regulated movement of heavy duty vehicle within the state
Tag: Obiano
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Trailer crushes man, wife, son in Anambra
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Ikenga community needs Obiano’s attention
SIR: The Ikenga community Lagos Branch sends “Save Our Soul” (SOS) to the Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to come to its aid.
Ikenga is one of the ancient communities in the southern Anambra State in Aguata Local Council Area. Surrounded on the west by Igbo-Ukwu, east by Ekwulobia, north by Isuofia and to the south by Ezinifite, it is the food basket of Aguata in particular and Anambra State in general. This ancient town has, today, produced quite a number of technocrats as well as academics for ndi Anambra. Ikenga has been playing pivotal role in Anambra economy.
Yet, Ikenga town remains the only community out of 14 communities that make up Aguata Local Government that is in lack of social amenities aside her self-help development projects. Their agricultural yields suffer decay as a result of insufficient attention given to it by the authorities.
The past administration of Peter Obi embarked and completed many road projects in many communities in Aguata but Ikenga wasn’t among the lucky.
We commend the Obiano administration’s effort and steps taken so far in achieving success in the area of security. Before now security has been the dread of many travellers into the state. The nightmare this visited on the people coming in and out of the state was enormous such that many ndi Anambra in Diaspora dreaded to visit their communities. Those who were bold enough to visit at times end up in sheltering in hotels outside their communities. The provision of CCTV in major markets of the state to rid Anambra State of market urchins is a most welcome development as it has made Anambra one of the most peaceful states in the country.
Today, the state capital Awka has taken its pride as an emerging mega city.
The people of Ikenga want to be counted among the communities that benefitted from the giant strides of the current administration. Most pressing of our needs include roads that will connect us with the outside world. The roads suggested are Igboukwu – Ikenga – Ekwulobia – Uga road taking its bearing from Nnewi – Ekwulobia road at Igbo-Ukwu Market. We also have the Nnewi – Ekwulobia road at Isuofia through to Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s country home to Ikenga – Ezinifite – Unubi linking Onitsha – Uga – Arondizuogu road.
Ikenga people loves you and have so much confidence in your administration and believe that you shall after reading this, commence the process of constructing one of the two major roads above.
• Chief Ike Anakor Onyekesi
President Ikenga Town Union Lagos
Chief J. J. Chuks Unegbu
(Akajiugo) (Uzuakpunnwa Ndi-Igbo
N’ala Ibadan & Oyo State.
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NANS petitions IGP, DSS, Obiano over student’s assault
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the Department of State Security (DSS), over the alleged assault of a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Chioma Ifemeludike.
NANS officials blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour in protest.
NANS coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to shut the office of a lawyer, Mr. Albert Okwudinka. Ifemeludike was allegedly pushed from a storey building.
Okorie said Ifemeludike suffered life threatening injuries and Okwudinka showed no remorse, even refusing to appear at the B-division police station where the matter was first reported before it was transferred to the Area Command.
He said: “Ifemeludike, a 300-level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as a tenant in Big Brother Castle which was managed by Okwudinka.
“Following the payment, she attempted to install her DSTV dish on June 15 but was stopped by the lawyer. He gave frivolous grounds that a separate payment be made before installation.
“When Ifemeludike persisted, Okwudinka threatened that should she mount the dish, she would have to live to tell the story, if she was fortunate to be alive. After this, Ifemeludike was pushed on Okwudinka orders”.
NANS therefore appealed to the inspector general of police, the Department of State Security (DSS), Governor Obiano, and the Nigerian Bar Association to wade into the matter.
Reacting, Okwudinka described the allegation as “false”. He said efforts were on to resolve the matter at the police station.
“I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike; I only ordered that the dish be removed.
“She fell while dragging the dish with the person who removed it,” Okwudinka said.
The lawyer said Ifemeludike stated in the tenancy form that she was a graduate and an actress.
Ifemeludike is the national president of National Association of Nigerian Female Students (NANFS). She said the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.
“If I, as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe,” she said.
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Assault of student: NANS petitions IGP, Obiano, DSS
Following the alleged assault on a female student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in Anambra state by a lawyer, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone-B, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police.
NANS, which carried out a protest on Monday in Awka, blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour.
NANS Zone-B, Coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to also shut the office of the accused lawyer, Mr Albert Okwudinka.
The copies of the petition to the IGP were made available to reporters Monday by the NANS coordinator Okorie.
He alleged that the student, Miss Chioma Ifemeludike, was pushed down from a storey building on the orders of the lawyer.
“Ifemeludike, a 300 level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as tenant of an apartment at Big Brother Castle, Awka being managed by the lawyer.
According to him, “Following the payment, she attempted to install the signal dish of her DSTV cable on June 15 at a vantage position where other tenants had mounted theirs but was prevented by the lawyer.
“The lawyer had given frivolous grounds that a separate request and payment be made before installation.
“At the persistence of Ifemeludike, Okwudinka threatened and affirmed that should she dare mount the platform, she would have to live to tell the story if she is fortunate to be alive.
“The lawyer after threatening her, ordered his staff and a security guard within the premises to push her down from a height of a storey-building,” the petition read.
Reacting, the lawyer described the allegation as “false”, noting that efforts were already on to resolve the matter at the Police station with her relatives.
Okwudinka said, “I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike but only ordered that the DSTV signal dish which she installed be removed”
“She fell down while dragging the signal dish with the person I ordered to remove it,” he said.
But Okorie, noted that Ifemeludike suffered serious life threatening bodily injuries which did not attract the sympathy of Okwudinka who, he alleged only showed pretentious remorse.
The Coordinator said that the lawyer ignored the call to show up at the B-division Police station, Awka, where the matter was first reported until it was transferred to Area Command.
NANS, therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General, Directorate of State Services (DSS), the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Nigerian Bar Association, among others to wade into the matter.
Ifemeludike, the victim, is the National President of National Association of Nigerian Female Students.
She told reporters that the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.
“If I as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe,” she added.
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Don’t play politics with projects, group warns Obiano
A Human rights group in Anambra State, Intersociety, has warned parties, governments and individuals in Anambra State to stop playing politics with projects.
The group was reacting to claims by Governor Willie Obiano that he completed 50 per cent of the Nkpor-Amawbia old road.
A statement by Intersociety’s President, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi said former Governor Peter Obi started and completed the road before Obiano was inaugurated.
The statement reads: “We at Intersociety observed the last asphalt of the road at Nawfia-Omuokpu-Amawbia section in early 2014 and that between Enugu-Ukwu and Nawfia in late December 2013, Peter ‘Okwute’ Obi fought hard to complete the road, particularly following APC and Ngige’s scornful use of it as one of their campaign weapons against him and his APGA party.
“At Intersociety, we also fought for re-asphalting of the failed portions of the road with several letters and offline messages and information to Obi”.
Intersociety expressed happiness that they were part of the group that monitored the progress of the reconstruction and had to bring routine progress of work to the government.
They said Obi’s government had to re-asphalt some portions of the road, expand small drainages and submitted that the project was 100 per cent completed by Peter Obi’s administration.
The group said: “Therefore, the present governor’s public pronouncement of completing most of the Nkpor old road project is statistically incorrect”.
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Obiano inaugurates Nkpor–Amawbia road
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday opend the Nkpor–Amawbia road in Idemili North Council and the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) road at Awada.
At the inauguration, Obiano said the construction was in line with the best standards in road construction around the world.
He said: “I have to make it clear that this road was started by my predecessor in 2008 and was done up to a few kilometers.
“My administration has completed 28 kilometers of the road with end-to-end drainage, clear road signs and markings, as well as the street-lighting which will soon be completed”.
Obiano also hailed the quality of work of the PHCN road, saying:
“My administration started and completed this road which provides access to an important facility.
“I want to assure Ndi Anambra that despite paucity of funds, we have not abandoned any road awarded by my predecessor. This is in line with my promise of ‘3 Cs’: to complete, to commission, and commence new projects”.
Commissioner for Works Lawrence Chinwuba said the Nkpor-Amawbia road cost N9.2 billion while the PHCN road cost N490 million.
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Obiano criticises report on human meat sale in Anambra
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has described as malicious reports that some restaurants served human meat in their menu.
Obiano said it was the handiwork of enemies of progress, adding that the state investigated the report thoroughly and found out that it was false.
A statement yesterday by the newly appointed commissioner for information, culture and tourism, Dr. Mrs. Mary Imelda Nwogu said:
“The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a false and malicious report circulating on social media over the purported closure by the Nigeria Police of a restaurant selling human flesh.
“This story, as reprehensible and false as it is, was also published by a national daily which has since retracted it and apologised, having found it to be false.
“The government of Anambra State, having investigated the story and found same to be false hereby urges Ndi Anambra and friends of the state to ignore the said story as it is part of a wider smear campaign by anti-democratic forces and enemies of progress who have been attempting to sabotage the fast paced visible infrastructural and social development going on in the state.
“These individuals who go by various aliases on social media and on some other media platforms have continued to feed unsuspecting members of the public with lies about Anambra, in the hope that they will distract the present administration.
“It is instructive that the police spokesman, Uche Ezeh had in an earlier statement debunked the story.
“Anambra State, the light of the nation is open for business and is now the destination of choice in Nigeria for investors looking for a government friendly investment climate, security, large market, attractive return on investment, skilled manpower and supporting infrastructure”.
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Obiano appoints five new commissioners
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has appointed five new commissioners to assist in steering the affairs of the state.
Those appointed are Mr. Okey Moka (Finance), Mrs Gladys Ilobi (Special Duties), Mr Afam Mbanefo (Agriculture), Mr Frank Offor (Housing and Urban Development) and Dr Uju Nwogu (Information, Culture and Tourism).
Administering oath of office on the appointees on Monday in Awka, the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr Emeka Ike, explained that the appointment was in accordance with the provision of Sections 190 and 194 of the Constitution of the country.
The governor, on his part, congratulated the appointees, urging them to see their appointments as a privilege and call to serve the people.
“Serving under this administration is an honour to those of you who have been sworn in and we look up to you to assist in moving the state forward.
“What you have just signed is your job specifications, with time frame for performance monitoring.
“So you will only stay as part of the team if you are found worthy,” Obiano said.
Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Nwogu expressed gratitude to the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state, promising to key into the tempo of developmental strides.
She pledged their dedication in ensuring the success of the Obiano administration’s four pillars of development in the areas of agriculture, oil and gas, trade and commerce as well as industrialisation.
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Obiano, Ekwunife mourn NUJ man
The Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the Senator-elect for Anambra Central, Uche Ekwunife, have lamented the death of the state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Ifeoma Anumba.
The duo said yesterday in Awka that Anumba’s death was unexpected.
Ekwunife, in a statement by her Media Assistant, Uzor Emmanuel, described Anumba’s death as devastating, especially at a time the country needed her services most.
She said the deceased was a diligent young lady that served with joy. She prayed God to grant her eternal rest.
The statement reads: “It is with deep sorrow and bewilderment that I commiserate with the family of Anumba of Nawfia community, and members of the NUJ, Anambra council, on the death of their daughter and secretary, Lady Ifeoma Anumba.
“The death is painful. We are always forced to relapse and only say it is well whenever we lost somebody so dear to our heart.
“I call on NUJ to see this as a tragedy that befell all of us and not journalists alone; we shall miss her smiling face and doggedness in the sustenance of the ethos of the noble profession”.
Before her sudden demise yesterday, Ifeoma Anumba, who hailed from Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, worked with the Federal Ministry of Information in Awka.
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‘Obiano is an embarrassment’
A socio-political group, Maka Odinma Anambra, has enjoined Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and leaders of the Southeast to stop embarrassing the zone by their shameless attempt to jump on the Buhari victory train.
The group decried Obiano’s visit to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, where he pledged to support Buhari, wondering the change in gear after the governor openly told his party members not to vote for a ‘jihadist and a party belonging to the Hausa/Yoruba ethnic nationalities’.