On Monday evening, tragedy struck in Ochanja market Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra state, when three segments of nearly completed market buildings collapsed. The tragedy was remarkable such that no fewer than six people were confirmed dead from the incident. Up till Tuesday afternoon when the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo visited the scene of the tragedy, an unspecified number of people were said to still be trapped in the rubble. This catastrophe has triggered backlash with many accusing the government of complicity. Surprisingly, during his visit to the scene on Tuesday, the governor of Anambra State Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, denied knowledge of the ongoing construction. The governor said in no uncertain terms that he was not aware of that project and did not approve of it. This has opened floodgates of intense interrogation that naturally followed.
Ochanja market in Onitsha is not new to tragedy. This is another perspective on the many sides of the Ochanja market tragedy. For instance, in the last few years, the market has been gutted by fire, nearly each year. For many years now, there is almost no year has passed without a noteworthy tragedy in that market. Some have said that the market might be hunted or going through some ritual cleansing of sorts. Whether true or false, can hardly be substantiated. What is clear is that the collapse of poorly constructed buildings has no spiritual connotation.
Therefore, for this latest tragedy, many people insist that the government had not only colluded with some desperate capitalists but that the governor was aware of the project and also approved of it. This is because it is practically impossible for such a remarkable project to be ongoing in such an open market without the knowledge of the governor. It is indeed impossible, for want of any other better word, for such a project to be ongoing without the governor’s knowledge and approval.
It would be recalled that Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, the former Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, had refused to approve the construction of that building. Dr. Ngonadi as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, after inspecting the project, marked them for demolition because, they failed some basic safety tests, even by mere looks. At the time Dr. Obinna left office some months ago, there were strong rumors linking his refusal to allow that construction to continue with his ordeal in the government. Some persons who are related to the governor and who are said to be in government, allegedly prevailed on the governor to drop Obinna because he was not complying.
Around July 2022, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi and the Director of Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barr. Chike Maduekwe, went on an inspection of Ochanja market and during that visit, Dr. Ngonadi described that construction as a disaster waiting to happen. He went on to say in clear words that the shops would be demolished. For the MD of the Physical Planning Board, he observed that as they were passing, the tenants were telling them to “please, come and help us. This building will collapse on our head.” This news was well reported and covered by Anambra State Broadcasting Service Television – ABS Tv, on July 18, 2022.
More recently, precisely on January 24th, 2024, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyedikachukwu Ibezim in the company of the Transition Chairman of Onitsha South local government, Mr. Emeka Orji, went to the same building site on inspection. The Deputy Governor who was visiting on behalf of the governor, went round the market to inspect the construction with the Onitsha South Transition Chairman. A part of the news report on the visit by Dr. Ibezim and Mr. Orji, written by one of the known government’s news vendors, shared vigorously on Facebook and WhatsApp by government appointees, reads in part, “Earlier, Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, paid an unscheduled visit to Ochanja market.” Yet, another interesting portion of the report reads as follows, “Governor Charles Soludo further ordered for the reconstruction of the market against the will of some vested interests…”
Without belaboring the fact, it is clear that contrary to the claim that the construction was happening without the knowledge of the governor, it might be the case that Dr. Ngonadi was asked to leave and resigned his appointment, to pave way for the construction to go on. In an exclusive interview with the West African Pilot News, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, the former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Anambra State, said he was no longer in the service of Anambra State Government and therefore not in any position to speak for or about the government. “I am not in the government anymore and cannot speak for or about the government,” he said.
However, the rumour that Dr. Ngonadi was relieved of his duty to force the continuation of the integrity-challenged building, appears far more credible now than ever.
In any case, the governor had vowed to jail and punish all those who took part in the project, during his visit to the scene on Tuesday. It is now left to be seen how it will all pan out. But, for the time being, from every possible angle, not only that the government is aware of the project and approved it. The government it might appear, was also aware of the defects of the building and at least allowed it to go on.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
