Immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Wednesday’s Onitsha fire incident as “very sad and regrettable, especially coming at this difficult time.”

His reaction came barely hours after the incident which claimed the lives of a mother and the baby while also leading to the destruction of property worth millions of naira.

Obi, Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 polls, appealed to government at all levels to come to the aide of those affected by the inferno occasioned by a fuel tanker that caught fire.

Meanwhile, incumbent Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has sympathised with the families of the yet-to-be-identified woman and child who were burnt to death in the accident which occurred when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit fell into a ditch and began to spill its contents leading to an explosion which quickly spread beyond control.

The failure of men of the Anambra State Fire Service to quell the inferno on arrival to the scene with their new equipment subsequently led to frayed nerves blocking other fire trucks, including one from neighbouring Asaba in Delta State, from getting to the scene.

A statement by the State Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, said the Governor would on Monday, October 21, meet with those affected by the tragic accident including shop owners at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the State Government.

Adinuba said the meeting is to foster ways to assist the affected traders.

According to him, a panel will be set up immediately to determine the cause of the accident, why the firemen could not put out the fire and how to pacify the victims.

The commissioner added: “Governor Obiano and his family pray for the repose of the souls of the woman and child who died in the accident. The Anambra State Government will assist their families in their burials.”

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