Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has declared Wednesday a public holiday to mourn the late Commissioner for Infrastructural Development, Fidelis Nweze.

The commissioner died from injuries sustained in a ghastly auto crash on June 19.

The governor directed all offices and markets shut and declared a four-day mourning period.

“All government officials in collaboration with the state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria would organise prayer and fasting sessions all through the mourning period.

“We have to pray for his family and the ring-road project which he was the chairman of its committee for the past six years,” said the governor.

Speaking about how he died, Mr Umahi explained, “He died on the morning of June 21, at the Turkish Hospital Abuja. He was travelling to Enugu on Saturday, June 19, about 7:00 p.m. with his orderly and driver as his vehicle rammed into a stationary articulated vehicle around the Obinagu area.

“They were all conscious after the accident as his orderly and driver sustained slight injuries and were discharged from hospital.”

Mr Umahi further stated that Mr Nweze had neck injuries and experienced severe pains in the stomach. The government later took him to the Turkish Hospital, Abuja.

“I directed my personal physician and another reputable doctor to assist in his treatment, and it was discovered after examination that the seatbelt he used ruptured his intestines.

“He underwent a successful operation, and I directed that he should be placed in the intensive care unit for adequate care. I called the hospital about 8’o’clock on the morning of June 2 and learnt that he experienced a crisis as I was later informed that he died at about 9.50 a.m.”

(NAN)