Maduako Igbokwe l Monday, June 07, 2021
AWKA, Nigeria – Governor of Anambra State ,Chief Willie Obiano has directed a high-powered delegate to visit families of the deceased victims and the owner of the cattle involved in the accident at Akwata Junction in Awka on Friday, June 4, 2021. The governor also promised to pay the bills for the medical treatment of all the victims of the accident.
In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Mr. C. Don Adinuba and released, the governor directed the team to visit Mr Cosmas Chibuike of Umunnachi, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, and condole with him for not only the death of the animals in the accident but also the later killing of some of the animals by the mob.
” Mr Chibuike has obviously suffered double tragedy” he said. Obiano in addition, directed the high-powered team to visit the truck driver and any persons with him in the vehicle when the accident occurred, including Mr Muhammed Ndaji of Taraba State who is receiving treatment in a top orthorpaedic hospital in Awka.
He said that many cows in Anambra State are jointly owned by indigenes of the state and experts from the Northern part of the country in a business arrangement popularly known as “agbate eke” which spells out not just the ratio of ownership but also the ratio of sharing both profit and loss.
“This business model has been in existence for several decades, and there are hardly complaints of cheating or fraud. This business relationship should be promoted in the interest of both parties as well as in the furtherance of national economic growth and unity. It is, therefore, regrettable that certain unpatriotic elements have been using the social media to impute all manner of meanings into the accident of last Friday, capitalizing on the current frayed ethnic, sectional and religious nerves in the country to cause mind poisoning, “he said .
According to the governor , the accident at the Akwata Junction in Awka occurred when the driver of a truck filled with cows lost control of his vehicle and, in the process, killed eight persons and damaged some vehicles.
Obiano further directed the team to ensure that the victims receive proper medical attention and, if necessary, take them to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, or any other hospital in the state for better attention. Obiano stated that the Government and people of Anambra State abhor jungle justice and all manner of mob behavior.
According to him, such behavior has no place in any civilized environment, noting that in every decent society, there were laid down procedures which aggrieved citizens and people take.
He further stated that People found guilty of irresponsible conduct in respect of the tragedy of last Friday will face the consequences of their action. He urged owners of big truck and drivers to constantly check the state of their vehicles before setting out on the road every day .
“The truck owners must also adhere to road safety rules like speed limit, especially in towns, cities and other places with high populations and economic activity. Drivers should also avoid stimulants like alcohol and drug.
“The Anambra State Government thanks security officers, Anambra State Fire Service officials, Anambra State Traffic Maintenance Agency as well as ordinary citizens who raced to the scene of the Akwata Junction accident and did their best to maintain law and order and take victims to different hospitals. Most Anambra people always live up to the true meaning of our shared humanity and our shared values” he said .
