PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
Related Articles
By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Victims of Ohoror fire tanker explosion in Ohoror community, Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State recently heaved a sigh of relief as three Uwheru indigenous social and interventionist groups (NGOs) donated relief materials to cushion the traumatic and economic impact of the inferno on them as many lost houses, businesses and other valuable properties.
The relief materials included foodstuff, clothes, granite and cement.
The three groups that made the donations to Ohoror community at the occasion were Ohoror/Uwheru Inferno Intervention Group, Uwheru Development Union (UDU) and Oborifori Forum. The three groups are made up of Uwheru indigenes.
The round of donations, which were made at Ohoror Secondary School on February 26, 2022, was started by Ohoror/Uwheru Inferno Intervention Group.
According to its coordinators, which include Chief Sir Simeon Ohwofa, a renowned philanthropist and popular Urhobo leader, and Dr. Samson Ogege, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, the group is an interventionist body purposely formed to help victims of the inferno by Uwheru sons and daughters resident in various places across the world.
The Ohoror/Uwheru Inferno Intervention Group donated bags of rice and beans, bales of cloth as well as made cash gifts.
During the sharing stage which was closely monitored by the president-general of Uwheru kingdom, Chief (Hon.) Macpherson Igbedi and the chairman of Ohoror community, Mr. Augustine Igometi, each adult got a bag of rice and beans, two pieces of cloth and N40,000.00. Secondary school students got N20,0000.00 each to enable them buy school uniforms and books while little children got N15,000.00 each for their upkeep.
The second group, Uwheru Development Union (UDU), an umbrella and apex administrative body of Uwheru kingdom led by the president-general, Chief (Hon.) Macpherson Igbedi, and other national executive members of the union, thereafter took the turn to donate bags of cement to support the process of rebuilding of the razed houses.
In his presentation, the president-general, Chief (Hon.) Igbedi told the victims and the entire Ohoror community to be patient as Uwheru leadership would not relent in giving succour to them by making their case known to the Delta State government and other stakeholders.
According to our correspondent, another social media group of Uwheru sons and daughters across the world, Oborifori Forum, completed the day of donations.
The forum however donated a trailer load of granite to also aid the process of rebuilding of burnt houses. The donation which was done on behalf of the national coordinator of the group, CSP Benjamin Igometi, by Engr. Roland Odjeni, Olorogun Cassius Okiki and Mr. Paris Ukpemeku, who represented the group at the occasion was applauded by leaders and all that present.
In a chat with our correspondent after the donations by the groups, Chief Sir Simeon Ohwofa, who is also an indigene of Ohoror community said, “This fire incident in the community was caused by a tanker explosion. It affected these people badly. Some lost their houses, businesses and virtually all household and valuable properties.
“We thank God there was no loss of life. But the victims right now are perpetually placed in hardship, suffering from various health challenges and general economic woes. This is why we came together under this group to give our little support to all the victims.
“As you can see, we didn’t spare anybody here. Our donations are made to both indigenes and non-indigenes of the community. Our donations are made across to all adults, young people and even the little children that were affected by the fire outbreak.
“I want to appeal to them to make judicious use of the money and the other items presented to them especially the secondary school students to enable them resume school immediately. We promised not to relent or relax until we successfully achieve our objectives of setting up this group.”
In words of appreciation and vote of thanks presented on behalf of the victims and the entire Ohoror community to the various donor groups, the chairman of the community, Mr. Augustine Igometi thanked the groups and individuals for their donations both in cash and kind since the fire outbreak in the community.
He said, “As a community, we are indeed grateful to all the various groups that came here today for their unflinching support to us since this fire outbreak in the community that wrecked havoc and hardship on the people. We are happy because of this new kind of neighborliness and love we are rightly showing to one another and to the different communities making the entire Uwheru kingdom.
“I must at this time thank our father and a highly respected son of the soil, Chief Sir Simeon Ohwofa and his group. We also thank our amiable and working president-general of Uwheru kingdom, Chief (Hon.) Macpherson Igbedi and his national executive members and also to our father and brother, CSP Benjamin Igometi and all members of Oborifori Forum for all that you have donated to us today. We pray God to continue lifting you higher and higher in Jesus name.”
