Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for a thorough investigation into the activities of a well-known native doctor in Anambra State, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly referred to as Akwa Okuko.

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Igbokwe expressed suspicion regarding the native doctor, who was among those arraigned by the Anambra State Police on Friday, suggesting he may be involved in activities beyond what is publicly known.

He appealed to Governor Charles Soludo to address the growing influence of native doctors with the seriousness it demands, lamenting the worsening security crisis plaguing the South-East.

“I beg Governor SOLUDO in the name of God Almighty to thoroughly and meticulously investigate this man called Akwa Okuko,” he wrote.

“I have previously raised concerns about this young man when he was reportedly kidnapped for failing to honour an agreement with his partners in crime.

“I saw some peculiar elderly women in his house, singing and offering prayers on his behalf. At that time, I remarked that this young man was involved in something far more complex and ought to be thoroughly investigated. The backlash I received was overwhelming — insults and invectives poured in from all sides.

“There is no adult of Igbo extraction in the South-East who is unaware of what is happening in the region, yet we choose to maintain a graveyard silence.

“I have never witnessed such a deep-seated conspiracy in the mind of a people who lost nearly everything between 1966 and 1970 — and yet, over fifty years later, we have returned to the same vomit.”

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.