Abraka: The Collapse Of The Hotel Building Is Mysterious —Elder Brother To Hotelier

As DTSG Inaugurates Board Of Inquiry

By Daniel Dafe

The elder brother, Sylvester Tojare, to the hotelier, Chief Efe Tojare, in police detention over the collapse of an hotel building under construction in Abraka, has expressed shock over the collapse of the said building, saying that it was a mysterious incidence, as he alleged a gang up by indigenes to ruin his brother and prevent his business growth in the community.

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM)in Asaba yesterday, he said he is of the opinion that rather than the police detaining his younger brother further, he would prefer the matter be taken to court.

According to him, he has visited the building site and observed that contrary to reports, 16mm and not only 12mm rods were used for the construction.

He also said that a 1-storey- building, not a 3-storey-building was what was been built.

He said: “The builder who is from Cotonou, Republic of Benin, has been building houses for my family for the past 15 years. This is the first time to have a building he built for us collapse. I have two hotels located in Ife, Osun State and Idiroka, Ogun State that were built in 2016 and 2914 respectively and they are both standing till today.”

Sylvester who is based in Lagos, narrated to OM how he recently had a dream of an impending tragic incidence soon to happen and narrated it to his brother and even advised him that he shelves his intention to build a hotel.

While alleging hatred by some indigenes for his brother, he narrated how some members of the community wanted him to use them for the building project, but he (Efe) refused and rather picked the builder from Cotonou who has been building for the family, adding that his brother invested in that building and there was no way he would have used substandard materials as a business man.

The Tojares are indigenes of Agbarho Community in Delta State.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has inaugurated an Administrative Board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding Collapsed buildings in Asaba, Abraka and Warri in Delta State.

Those to serve in the board are Engineer Joshua Egube as the Chairman, Mr. Anthony Abuah, Mr. Igho Eduvie, Secretary, Engineer Rex Ohre, member and Mrs. Iduseri Orerhime, member.

Mr. Ebie listed the terms of reference to include to determine the immediate and remote causes of the three incidents, identify persons involved, proffer adequate punishment for those identified and recommend adequate measures that will forestall future reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.

He said the panel had a time frame of two weeks to complete the assignments and submit its report.

Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of the panel, Engineer Egube, who noted that the incidents of collapsed building in the state had become worrisome, said they would visit the three places the incidents occurred to verify the cause and make recommendations.

He thanked the state Government for finding them worthy to serve the state and assured that they would do their best.