credits: File copy There are several myths about the last four months of the year popularly called ‘Ember’ months. Many believe that September to December are the most dangerous months of the year. The Pentecostals are of the opinion that it is the period when Satan embarks on in-gathering of souls by causing mysterious deaths, accidents, calamities and catastrophes. They therefore call for lots of prayer and fasting, vigils and organise crusades to frustrate the “plans” of Satan and enemies who do not want them to see the New Year. Given what we now know about ‘ember’ months, it is quite clear that there are no mysteries about the period. The last four months are the farmers harvest season and a time when a lot of festivities take place. Marriages, burial ceremonies, chieftaincy celebrations, housewarming and many other festivals are often fixed for the last four months of the year because it is assumed that the rains would have subsided. Many corporate organisations also grant annual leave to their staff as well as close for the year by mid-December to enable their workers to observe the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Thus, it is a period of holidaying. Because of the hike in the number of festivities observed during the ‘ember’ months, a lot of traveling takes place thus the roads are busier in this period than any other time of the year. Aside from travelling, a lot of people are also under intense financial pressure having to pay school fees and attend to several invitations or contribute to different ceremonies. It is customary in Yorubaland, even in Igboland, to buy ‘Aso Ebi’ and also give gifts to people. Many also want to show off their progress for the year, particularly if they will be travelling to their homestead or birthplace. Hence, they go shopping for new cloths, bags, shoes, cars, etc. The intense financial pressure can and do cause high blood pressure for many which can lead to sudden death, heart attack or stroke. For the fact that the roads are busier during the season, coupled with our transporters obsession to make super profit, road accidents occur more during the ‘ember’ months particularly the festive period within that window. The Federal Road Safety Corps always intensifies road safety campaigns during this season. They carry out a lot of sensitisation, patrol and enforcement. And talking about FRSC, I wish to commend the effort of the Osita Chidoka-led organisation at minimising road accidents. I recall that this vision of road safety, just like that of calisthenics display, was started in the pace setter state of Oyo when the first governor of the state, Chief Bola Ige, established Oyo State Road Safety Corps in 1980 or thereabout. We used to call the officials ‘Maja-maja’. I learnt dispute over jurisdiction created a lot of problems for the Corps then as traffic offenders on federal highways were challenging the legality of their prosecution by a state agency. In 1988, the Federal Government took a cue from Oyo State and set up FRSC. In particular the Commission is charged with the responsibilities for: Preventing or minimising accidents on the highways; Clearing obstructions on any part of the highways; Educating drivers, motorists and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways; Designing and producing the driving licence to be used by various categories of vehicle operators; Determining, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driving licence; and Designing and producing vehicle number plates.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 07:14:14 +0000
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