Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has directed his Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security to carry out an investigation to find out what actually led to the inferno that engulfed a two-storey building at 73 Lagos Street Aba, this week.

This is as he expressed dismay that the phone numbers of Fire Service officials in Aba were reportedly switched off when the fire was ravaging the building.

Otti, who paid a visit to the victims on Friday, commiserated with them and promised that his administration would assist them and provide temporary accommodations for them.

He thanked God that no life was lost and stressed the need for every household to have a fire extinguisher, and directed that henceforth, there is going to be enforcement of compulsory fire extinguisher in all households.

He directed that a thorough investigation should be conducted to ascertain why the phone numbers were off during such an emergency and to determine if the inferno was natural or the carelessness of the occupants.

“It’s quite unfortunate that the fire service could not come on time, normally they arrive within ten minutes and I am surprised the way this one turned out.

“I have directed them to do a thorough investigation to ascertain why the phone numbers of fire service officers were off during the fire outbreak.

“I need to get a report about the fire service officers and why their phones were put off and this whole place burnt down completely,” Otti fumed.

Narrating their ordeals, the landlord of the building, Mr. Vincent Uzuegbu, his family and a tenant in the building, Mr. Obinna Obi and his wife, said that they were asleep when the fire started, adding that they lost everything.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says the Supreme Court judgement on Friday, which sacked the Julius Abure- led National Working Committee of Labour Party, LP, will pave the way for the return of peace, unity and order in the party.

Otti, who was reacting to the Court ruling, said the leadership of the party has been vindicated.

According to him, the tenure of the Abure-led National Working Committee had long expired which informed the decision to set up the National Caretaker Committee led by Esther Nenadi Usman as Chairman and Darlington Nwokocha as secretary.

Governor Otti added that the vision behind the setting up of the committee was to foster peace and unity, while strengthening the party to consolidate on the gains made in the last election.

Governor Otti commended the Supreme Court for its sound judgement, which he said met the popular expectations of genuine Labour Party members in particular, and Nigerians in general and thanked those who kept faith while the battle for the soul of the party lasted.

Otti further invited the former national officers of the party to join hands with the National Executive Committee, NEC and the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, of the party to move the party forward, assuring that he and other leaders of the party were committed to building an all-inclusive party devoid of discrimination and favoritism.

Ahead of tomorrow’s Gubernatorial primary elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be facing serious internal crisis after two front line aspirants announced their withdrawal from the race.

In separate letters, Sir Paul Chukwuma and Hon Chuma Umeoji both announced their decision to step away from the race.

They both cited personal reasons for their decision.