Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and the widow of the late
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital,
condemned the demolition of Ojukwu’s Memorial Library and Resource Centre.
Obi,
who was accompanied by former Minister of Information Prof. Dora Akunyili and
government officials, said he wanted to have a first- hand assessment of the
damage done to the multi-billion naira edifice being built by the Movement for
the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
“I
came to sympathise with MASSOB leader Ralph Uwazuruike because this edifice is
built in honour of our leader, the late Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu.
“Anybody
who decides to erect anything in Ojukwu’s memory should be respected.
“I
want to assure you that the renovation will begin immediately.”
Speaking
in an emotion-laden voice, Mrs. Ojukwu said: “I was shocked when Uwazuruike
broke the news to me at about midnight on Saturday after we attended a funeral
in Anambra.
“This
is very sad and shocking.”
The
MASSOB leader said the incident was a sabotage, conceived and carried out by
anti-Igbo elements not happy with the prominence and honour accorded to the
late Biafran leader.
Uwazuruike
said: “We have an experienced engineer who is handling the project and I wonder
why it should suddenly collapse.
“Lately,
the boys reported strange movements in the neighbourhood but I told them to
ignore it.
“On
the day the building collapsed, my boys rushed out and saw the hoodlums as they
scaled the fence and escaped in a waiting van.”
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Society