Explosion Rocks Ohakim's Owerri Country Home

…Ex-governor blames political opponents, says he won't be cowed

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, May 15, (THEWILL) â€' An explosion Thursday rocked the Owerri country home of the immediate past governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, reducing the building into a rubble.

A totally confused ex-governor pointed accusing fingers at his political opponents, whom he said, have now rendered him homeless. He however said the incident would not cow him into capitulating to his opponents.

Speaking with sympathisers who trooped to the scene of the blast to symphatise with him, Ohakim said: 'What it means now is that any time I have something to do in Owerri, I will be begging people for where to sleep in a state I once presided as Governor.'

Explaining how he got to know about the blast, the apparently worried Ohakim said: 'At 1.30 am, my security men called to say that they heard a loud bang like an explosion followed by huge flame which immediately engulfed the house and they tried to put out the fire with water but not until the whole property and building was razed by fire. When I got here I met the rubble of what used to be my home. I think what triggered their adrenalin was my intention to make a political statement on Saturday.'

'I don't know how they did it. They might have thrown in the explosive or whatever I don't know but I will leave that for the security people to investigate.'

Lamenting the loss, the former governor said : 'As you all are aware, this is my only house in Owerri even as a former Governor of the state and this was built before I became the Governor. You are also aware that as a former Governor, I am entitled to a guest house but I was denied that by Governor Rochas Okorocha who even seized my personal properties, including the ones belonging to my wife and children. I am worried about the way the opposition in the state is carrying on.'

He stated further : 'When I was 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 but I will go ahead and make my political statement as planned on Saturday, I will even make more statement than I had planned because I won't be cowed by this incident.'