The face-off between the convoy of Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and that of Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu on Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Awa Community, Oguta Local Government Area was the third of such traffic rows the governor has had in the last seven months. The first occurred on December 26, 2012 along the Azaraegbelu section of the every-busy Owerri-Umuahia Expressway between the governor’s convoy and that of Senator Chris Anyanwu. The governor’s camp declared that incident as an assassination attempt on the governor’s life in spite of the fact that Anyanwu’s driver came out badly bruised and battered. Reports said the senator’s driver was pummelled by security men attached to the governor. Then on April 19, 2013, a Mercedes Benz car being driven by one Osita Nnewuihe reportedly rammed into the governor’s car along the Owerri-Orlu Expressway. Okorocha allegedly sustained a head injury which led to his being flown abroad for medical treatment. However, on his return, Nnewuihe was released by the police and rewarded with a cash gift of N200,000 for his upkeep and repair of his car. Nnewuihe also got appointed as the governor’s SA (Special Adviser) on Accident Matters! These traffic rows involving the governor are becoming too many. He has to be wary of them. He must not overlook the fact that such incidents badly impacted on the administration of his predecessor. Again, the operators of convoys in the country have to change their mindset. Granted that motorists/cyclists should clear from the roads for their leaders to keep urgent official appointments, the convoy operators must also realize that such clearance must be convenient to the motorists/cyclists. Our roads are not properly paved going by their rough edges and undulating surfaces as well as the existence of ditches besides them. Therefore, it is not expected that motorists/cyclists would in a bid to clear for their leaders lose their lives by falling into those ditches that dot our landscape. No one should give the impression that anybody’s life is more valuable. Our political leaders were elected to save and preserve life and not to help the citizens to hurriedly check out of the planet earth. Be that as it may, the motorists/cyclists must strive at all times to clear from the road each time they hear the blaring of siren from convoys. It is a mark of respect to our leaders. But the use of sirens must be controlled. A situation where every Dick and Harry who are related to the powers-that-be either by blood or friendship or business now blare siren is absurd. In the Awa Community case, just like that of Azaraegbelu, the governor’s security personnel exhibited overzealousness. And this overzealousness is condemnable. Instead of assisting the cyclist who was knocked down by the governor’s outrider to receive medical treatment, the security men reportedly unleashed mayhem on him. This must have been responsible for the anger the youths displayed. However, all concerned must guard against the polity in Oguta boiling over. Since the voiding of Hon. Dibiagwu’s election and the fixing of the re-run poll on June 29, there has been tension in the council. This shouldn’t be if the idea of winning election is to serve the people. Culled from CrimeFACTs.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 07:50:58 +0000
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