By Phil Okose, Onitsha
The Onitsha Bridgehead market, Anambra State, shut last Tuesday, over the chemical explosion that occurred in the drug (Ogbogwu) will be reopened Tuesday, according to the chairman of the Bridgehead market, Hon. Chinedu Ezekwike.
Ezekwike made the disclosure Monday, during the Newyam festival celebration of his Public Relations Officer, PRO, Comrade Peter Okala, held at the latter’s residence at Okasi, Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
At the occasion, a two minute silence was observed in honour of those killed by the chemical explosion, as directed by Ezekwike, who managed to be in attendance as he is still mourning the deceased.
Ezekwike said, “I am not supposed to be here because we are still mourning the demise of those killed in our market by the chemical explosion. I managed to be here because the host and celebrant is the PRO of the market and as such I came to show my presence and leave.
“We shut our market last Tuesday because of what happened and also to save the health of traders concerning the chemical effect on the atmosphere therein. We will reopen the market on Tuesday, (tomorrow). Recall that the advice to shut the market came from the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Afam Obidike, after his visit to ascertain the extent of destruction by the chemical explosion in our market.”
Contributing, the celebrant, Okala, thanked the market chairman, Ezekwike, member representing Ogbaru Federal constituency in the Green chambers, Hon. Chuma Onyema, member representing Ogbaru 11, in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, chairman chainsaw section of Bridgehead market, Chief Onyebuchi, Umeh, Anambra Drivers Welfare Association chairman, comrade Adindu Okpala, chairman of the landlords’ Association of Okasi, Fredrick Muogozie and chairman on the occasion, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu, for being in attendance despite their tight schedules, urged those affected by the explosion to take heart.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased hinting that he was heavily affected by the rampaging flood that has receded as his house was submerged by flood.
He urged lawmakers in the National Assembly, that attended his Newyam festival and good spirited individuals/groups to come to the rescue of the residents of the area, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the perennial flooding.