Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio
Convoy of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was arrested in Abuja on Monday afternoon by security operatives for driving against traffic.
Apparently, the Governor's convoy was en route to the Three Arms Zone (an area of Abuja where the administrative offices of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the federal government are located) and encountered a mild traffic jam close to the Nigeria Police Headquarters.
It was gathered that, at the time of the incident, President Goodluck Jonathan was leaving Aso Rock Villa for the National Executive Council meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Wadata House national secretariat of the party. Thus, security operatives blocked the road as the presidential convoy moved towards Shehu Shagari Way.
However, while other road users halted movement to make way for the presidential convoy, Governor Akpabio's convoy, coming from Asokoro, was unwilling to queue. According to a witness, the Governor's convoy made a detour and drove against traffic at a high, blaring siren and swerving from side-to-side.
A number of heavily armed soldiers and police officers moved swiftly to arrested the Governor's convoy. However, the convoy was released with a warning, after the intervention of security operatives attached to the governor.
The onlookers applauded the Governor convoy's arrest, stressing that nobody is above the law.
It seems that it is common practice for many state governors to force their drivers to drive above speed, compromising safety of other road users.
According to the FRSC, 12 state governors were involved in accidents between 2008 to 2012, many of them fatal.
Between 2012 and date, about three convoy accidents have been recorded across the country including an unidentified convoy of 7 vehicles that killed two and injured 9 along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on November 14, 2013.
While no life was lost in the accident that involved the convoy of Edo State Governor Adam Oshiomhole, that of Idris Wada of Kogi State took the life of Prof. Festus Iyayi, a prominent member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU).
FRSC have assured that they remain committed to enforcing its laws, and where violations are confirmed, there would be penalties imposed.
No comments:
Post a Comment