THE death on November 12 of a renowned don and activist, Festus Iyayi, in an accident provoked by a governors vehicle convoy, is one instance of executive recklessness too many. It is bad enough that Nigerians are victims of incredibly poor governance, but it is intolerable that the politicians who make such a mess of our lives also terrorise us with convoys on the highways. There should be an iron resolve by Nigerians to bring an end to their relentless harassment on the roads by public officials and other tormentors. The disregard for the public by persons holding public office and security personnel is becoming unbearable. This was evident in the Iyayi slaying. It is a reflection of the insensitivity of Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, that he allowed his aides to once more drive so recklessly as to waste one of Nigerias finest academics in an avoidable road accident. This is the same governor whose convoy in December 2012, was involved in an accident that claimed the life of his aide-de-camp and hospitalised him with an injured leg. His case is typical of 35 of Nigerias 36 state governors, who rather than see themselves as serving the people, assume imperial airs and use their convoys to harass, terrify and bully others off our roads. Iyayi, a professor of Business Administration, was on his way to Kano as a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities team to negotiate an end to the prolonged lecturers strike. There was no reason for a high speeding convoy on the Lokoja-Abuja highway; traffic was not heavy and Wada is not more important than other Nigerians plying the road. He has not demonstrated the level of maturity expected of someone trusted with such a high office. How does he sleep at night knowing the perpetual recklessness of his convoy drivers has now cost two lives and thrown the families and friends of the deceased into mourning? The experience of December 2012 should have prompted him to issue very strict instructions to his drivers to observe statutory speed limits. He should not be allowed to get away with his indiscretion. The affected family should take the legal option and seek redress in court. Since he has constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, the police officer who drove the car has no such protection, and should therefore, be promptly made to face the music. Nigerians should no longer accept harassment on the highways by state governors, other officials and police. In 1995, two schoolchildren were killed near the Lagos airport by the convoy of the then Communications Minister, the late Abubakar Rimi; in 2011, five persons, among them the ADC to Governor Ibrahim Shema, died in an accident in the Katsina State governors speeding convoy; three journalists died in another convoy accident of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in (Edo State) 2012; and three other persons died in the convoy of Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, that same year. Many other governors convoys have similarly wasted lives, terrorised other commuters and caused many unreported accidents.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 00:26:55 +0000
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