Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, narrowly escaped death on Monday after his SUV caught fire and was gutted by flames in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The incident occurred while the former lawmaker was driving himself along the Eastern By-pass, specifically in front of Hypercity, while en route to Trans Amadi.
Nwuke, who represented the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2015, confirmed the harrowing experience in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP on Tuesday morning.
“I was driving to Trans Amadi when the incident occurred. In fact, it happened in front of Hypercity on Eastern By-pass. I thank God for the gift of life. I thank God that I survived,” he said.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the vehicle burst into flames suddenly, forcing the lawmaker to exit the car just moments before the fire intensified.
The former lawmaker’s daughter, Ebony Nwuke, took to Facebook to share her relief and gratitude over her father’s survival, describing the event as a “close call” with tragedy.
“Today, God snatched my father from the very jaws of death. For that alone, my heart overflows with gratitude. Cars can be replaced, metal can be repaired… but a life is priceless and once gone, it is gone forever,” she wrote.
She further thanked “Abba Father” for choosing mercy and turning what could have been a day of mourning into a celebration of preserved life.
