Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Monday paid a condolence visit to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whose convoy was involved in a ghastly crash on the Auchi-Warrake road at the weekend, that killed three journalists. Several others including security details, also sustained varying degree of injuries.
Led by the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the ACN delegation which included former Governors of Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba, and Chief Adeniyi Adebayo and National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Layi Mohammed, was later conducted round the wards at the Central Hospital, Benin City where some of the victims of the crash are being treated.
The governor and his guests moved from one bed to the other, exchanging pleasantries and words of encouragement to the victims and their families, who were around to tend to their needs. Oshiomhole and the ACN leaders also engaged the doctors and nurses on the state of health of the victims. Other patients, who were elated at the visit of the governor also used the opportunity to present their own litany of demands.
Earlier, the governor who expressed appreciation at the visit of the ACN leaders told his guests that the incident smacks of foul play and a premeditated plan to harm him.
“Just a little over eight minutes after leaving the Afuze venue of the rally, where many PDP members decamped to ACN, a tipper lorry suddenly emerged, heading straight for my staff car. Only providence that made me to abandon the staff car and drive a smaller car saved me from being hit. The lorry later hit the vehicle conveying security details which immediately somersaulted and then hit the bus conveying journalists”.
“It’s unfortunate that we have lost three young men with young families. We are determined to get to the root of the matter. Our opponent will expect that we’ll be frightened by this incident but we’ll take our report card to every village and every hamlet in order to ensure that the journalists do not die in vain”, he said.
Responding, Chief Akande said it was unfortunate that “We see democracy as a thing of joy but we now see that the other side is resorting to killing and maiming. We pray that the good work you are doing in Edo State is not allowed to come to nought”.
Others who joined the governor to receive the ACN leaders were Chief Tom Ikimi, National Vice Chairman, South South, Pastor Ize Iyamu, the state ACN Chairman, Rt Hon Thomas Okosun and the Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Festus Ebea amongst others.
Oshiomhole also received a delegation of traditional rulers from Edo North who came to pay condolence visit at the Government House. Led by the Otaru of Auch, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, the Ikelebe the 11, the delegation later offered prayers to the governor, victims of the crash and the bereaved families.
Also the Edo North Coordinator of the Oshiomhole Campaign, Hon Pally Iriase has commiserated with the families of the bereaved journalists. Iriase, a former Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG) who announced the suspension of all political campaigns in the area for one week prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed journalists.
“There’s time for everything in life, we take consolation that the journalists gave their lives in the cause of development of a new Edo State”, Iriase, a member of House of Representatives said.
