The immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and family escaped death by divine intervention in the early hours of Thursday as unknown persons bombed his private residence in Owerri and left the building in shatters. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roof of the house and some parlours were damaged.
The former governor who was seen in the company of his wife, Chioma Ohakim told journalists at the premises that his security men called to alert him of the development. He said he had arrived Owerri in the evening of the incident from abroad where he went for a medical checkup, had wanted to sleep in the house but later decided to proceed to his country home in Okohia in Isiala Mbano local government to pass the night.
“At about 1.30a.m. my security men alerted that they heard a loud bang like an explosion followed by huge flames which engulfed the house. When I got here, I met the rubbles of what used to be my home. You are all aware, this is my only house in Owerri and it was built even before I became the governor. What it means now is that anytime I have to be in Owerri, I will be begging people for where to sleep in a state I once presided as a governor,” he said.
The former governor who condemned the destruction of his house, described the development as a ploy by his political opponents to deter him.
`I think what triggered this action is my intention to make a political statement on Saturday. I don’t know how they did it but I will leave that for the security agencies to investigate. When I was the governor of the state, I did not assassinate any opposition member, neither did I harass anyone. I even took care of the opposition in the state but they have done this to intimidate me. I will still go ahead and make my political statement as planned on Saturday because I refuse to be cowed by this incident,’’ he said.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Andrew Enwerem, said there was no evidence of an explosion at the scene. He said there was some damage on the building but that it was caused by fire.
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