Imo,Okorocha and the Umudagu Osisi Ukwu Uko

I wish to commiserate with the families of the 50 persons in Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli in Imo State that lost their lives in the Osisi Ukwu Uko tragedy. My heart also goes to other victims and residents of Umudagu who suffered bodily injuries as a result of the Uko tree calamity. I am wishing them quick recovery. For those of you who don’t know, an ancient tree believed by some to be a tree of the gods fell on Thursday May 16th, killing over 50 people at Umudagu in Imo State.
Apart from civil war and pipeline disaster, I can’t remember the last time so many people lost their lives in a single disaster in Imo State. One wonders the number of Iroko trees that are within the neighbourhoods in Owerri and elsewhere across Imo State that constitute serious threat to public safety and are waiting to explode. One wonders what kind of deep sleep the people of Umudagu Mbieri were into when markets, houses and other structures were being erected around such a big Iroko tree. At least, there should have been a specified radius within which no structure should be put up around the Osisi Ukwu Uko. It is lack of planning that makes it possible for residents and Iroko tree to live as neighbors. In all ramifications, the Mbaitoli local government area authorities should be held liable for the loss of lives as a result of the Osisi Ukwu Uko tragedy.