Ohakim, others chide Okorocha as another bridge collapses in Owerri

The bridge at the Children’s Amusement Park located at the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre in Owerri, Imo, built by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration has collapsed. Witnesses at the scene in Owerri on Wednesday morning said nobody was killed or injured in the incident.

The incident, which caused pandemonium in the area, gave room for criticism by some parents whose children visited the place on May 27 during the 2018 Children’s Day Celebration. The incident occurred after a heavy downpour on Tuesday night.

The bridge, being a major tourism site, has been used to generate funds for the state government.

The immediate past governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim yesterday berated the governor over the incident. The Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment, Ogechi Ololo, had earlier told journalists that the matter was being looked into.

In a statement on Thursday signed by Ohakim’s Chief Press Secretary, Collins Ughalaa, the former governor while thanking God that the bridge did not record any loss of life, warned against wasting public funds to construct allegedly sub-standard infrastructure in any part of the state.

Also, a structural building engineer, Anthony Allinor, attributed the collapse to structural defects in the construction. “The collapse of the so called tourism bridge is traceable to structural inadequacy. This present administration doesn’t believe in professionalism.”

The state chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Mr. Emeka Ugoanyawu, had earlier warned against substandard engineering work in the state.

Also, the National President of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Mr. Kashim Ali, had faulted the quality of the flyover constructed by the Okorocha administration, located at Orji. Ali, as a matter of urgency, urged Gov. Okorocha, to stop work on the flyover.