Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The 2023 Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Professor Greg Ibe, has expressed grief over the tragic auto crash in Aba on Tuesday that claimed no fewer than four lives and wounded several others when a 40-feet container fell on their vehicles at Ogbor Hill Aba.
Professor Ibe who said he was devastated by the news of the tragedy, condoled with Gov. Alex Otti as well as families of the victims.
Ibe, a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Presidential Advisory Council, expressed deep concern over the worrisome preponderance of road crashes on the bridge axis of Waterside in Aba.
He called for an immediate solution to the perennial traffic challenge in the area to prevent further loss of lives.
The APGA governorship candidate in a statement by his Media Aide, Rev Sleek Ogwo, said: “I received with sadness news about the tragic road crash on the waterside axis of Aba which claimed many lives.
“I wish to commiserate with our Governor Dr Alex Otti, and members of the bereaved families over the painful loss of their loved relations.
“While not approving of death in any form, I think dying through a road crash is a harsh and brutal way of signing off from this earth. It was a black Tuesday as I deeply mourn the unfortunate victims of this accident.”
Continuing, he said: “I believe this is one fatal incident too many on this same waterside bridge and therefore presents a worrisome traffic challenge that must be urgently addressed to prevent reoccurrence and subsequently avoid further loss of precious lives.”
Tragedy struck when a trailer conveying a container of goods lost control while descending Ogbor Hill in Aba in the early hours of Tuesday and consequently rammed into some vehicles at the Waterside Bridge, killing about four persons in the aftermath.
A similar incident that equally claimed many lives occurred at the same scene in February 2022, leading to the relocation of the near-by popular Ahia Udele Market by the previous administration.