The Ogbako Egbema Alinso (OEA), the apex socio-cultural organisation of Egbema Ethnic Nationality, has condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric attack on the official vehicle of the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, during his sympathy visit to Mmahu, headquarters of Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area, in which some hoodlums stoned the governor’s car.
A statement issued by the Gbako Egbema and signed by its President, Mr Igwebuike Francis Ifi dis-associated Egbema people from the unwholesome behaviour to the governor whom Egbema people have great respect for.
Mr Ifi promised that Egbema people will assist security agencies to fish out those behind the dastard act, and regretted that the governor who was in Mmahu Egbema to sympathise with Egbema people over the killing of two Egbema indigenes by the trucks of Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited was rather attacked by some disgruntled elements.
He disclosed that the oil firm had been having issues with Egbema communities following the killing of an indigene of Mgbede who was killed by the firm’s truck in January, 2020 and also damaged Egbema roads in Egbema before the recent tragedy in which the firm’s vehicles knocked down two others at Mmahu Egbema last Friday. Several others according to him, were injured and are receiving treatment in different hospitals.
Also speaking, Dr Linus Ogbalubi explained that Egbema people will ever remain grateful for the governor’s prompt response to the death of Chioma Abel and Imo Franklin occasioned by wreckless drivers of the Indian Oil giant who rather than pipe their crude oil through pipelines resorted to trucking their products through Egbema communities.
Dr Ogbalubi who apologised to the Imo State governor on behalf of Mmahu community and the entire Egbema people blamed the ugly incident on some miscreants who are desirous to rubbish Egbema people.
He urged the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources to call the Sterling Global Oil Resources to order and stop the firm from trucking their products through Egbema so as not to cause further harm to the people.
The chartered accountant pledged the support and loyalty of Egbema people to the administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma’s administration, noting that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will distract the people from being supportive of Imo State government led by Senator Uzodimma.
