NLC BLAMES KOGI GOVERNMENT OVER IYAYIS DEATH It was however not only the ASUU leaders that lambasted the governor over the accident, the Nigeria Labour Congress, a former President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele and an ex-Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Abubakar Tsav, also did. They described Wada’s convoy as reckless and demanded the prosecution of the driver of the escort vehicle that caused the accident on the Lokoja-Abuja Road. The NLC, in a statement in Abuja by its National President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, described the death of Iyayi as avoidable. It also blamed the Federal Government for its neglect of the road. The NLC said its position was that the federal and Kogi State governments were responsible for Iyayi’s death. It said that 10 years after the contract for the rehabilation of the Lokoja-Abuja Road was awarded, it had been turned to a death trap. The NLC said, “Iyayi’s death leaves a sour taste in the mouth and it is totally avoidable. It is blameable, lawlessness/impunity on the part of the Kogi State governor, who is fast acquiring for himself an accident-prone reputation. The congress therefore advised “siren-blowing and terror-dealing convoys” to be conscious of other road users. It called on the Federal Roads Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police to ensure that those behind the accident were brought to justice. Esele and Tsav urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the convoy driver involved in the accident was prosecuted. They spoke in different telephone interviews with our correspondents. According to them, Wada has a responsibility to caution his drivers as his convoy has become reputed for recklessness. Esele recalled that the convoy of the governor was involved in an accident which resulted in the death of Wada’s Aide de Camp and in which Wada was also injured. Tsav, who described the death of the former ASUU leader as unfortunate, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to meet the demands of ASUU. This, he said, would be in appreciation of the fact that Iyayi died while contributing to the development of University education in the country. Tsav said that accidents occurred in Kogi State not because the roads in Kogi were the worst but because the drivers in the governor’s convoy were not cautious. He said that the roads were not meant only for the political office holders but for all Nigerians. He said, “The convoy of Wada is known for being reckless; this is not the first time this is happening. It does not mean that the worst roads are in Kogi State. “I want to appeal to him to caution his drivers, they are reckless, he should caution them to be cautious on the roads, the roads belong to every Nigerian.”
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:57:35 +0000