Oshiomhole tells driver of vehicle that nearly killed him "I forgive you"

he Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, survived yet another motor accident on December 28 along the notorious Benin-Auchi Road. He had been holidaying in his village, Iyamho, and returning to Benin- City when a Peugeot J5 bus, with registration number, XB 355 Fugar, loaded with tomatoes and plantains, lost control while trying to overtake a trailer and rammed directly into the governor’s Flag Car, a BMW bullet proof car, from the opposite direction before ending in a ditch. Inside the car with the governor were his aide-de-camp (ADC) and the driver.

The incident occurred around Ewu village at about 9.45am and, if not for God, as the governor later explained, it would have been another sad story for the nation because the bullet proof car was damaged beyond repairs but no injuries were sustained by the victims. Sunday Vanguard learnt the accident caused panic in Oshiomhole’s village as youths of the community rushed out of their homes to assist the governor’s convoy.

The security operatives attached to the convoy were on red alert fearing that it could be a deliberate attempt on Oshiomhole’s life. Their fear was prompted by the way the accident occurred. The bus ran directly into the governor’s car and the impact forced all the air bags in the car out. The four rims of the car and tyres were destroyed and the car may have somersaulted if the convoy had been on speed.

While the villagers and passengers stopped to assist the Comrade Governor, his security aides took him away in one of the backup vehicles in case the accident was an attempt on his life. Sunday Vanguard gathered that after Oshiomhole, who was visibly shocked, was rescued by security operatives, he made a sign of the cross and made sure that nobody was hurt including the driver of the J5 who rammed into his car before he agreed to leave the scene.

The driver of the J5 bus was taken away by security operatives probably for further investigations. Though it was learnt that the driver of the bus was at fault, Sunday Vanguard gathered that Oshiomhole left instruction that the man must not be tortured and advised that he should be allowed to go home since God has saved them from the accident.

Panic
However, there was panic in Edo State when the news spread to Benin- City that the Comrade Governor was involved in a ‘serious accident’. Tongues started wagging as to the state of the governor and what could have led to the accident. It would be recalled that prior to the 2012 governorship election in the state, while party members and leaders were waiting for Oshiomhole in Benin -City to address a rally,  news came that his convoy was involved in a motor accident where three journalists attached to Government House lost their lives.

The crash led to an exchange of words between the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the then ACN leaders, after the ACN accused the PDP of a plot to assassinate the governor. That was in the heat of the governorship campaign. In that accident, the governor was not riding in his Flag Car and that was the car the tipper rammed into in that accident.

Fear gripped APC leaders when it was learnt that the governor was involved in another accident and it was rumoured that he was flown abroad for treatment despite the statement from the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua, that the governor was hale and hearty. According to the statement, “the Peugeot J5 bus was following a truck that was descending the Ewu slope when it suddenly veered off into the governor’s lane from the opposite direction and directly impacted on the governor’s vehicle, apparently because of brake failure. The good story is that nobody sustained injuries in both vehicles. The Comrade Governor is hale and hearty, his ADC and other occupants of the Peugeot J5 are also in good condition.

The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Station at Ewu for further investigation. This is to assure all good people of Edo State that there is no cause for alarm. Their loving Comrade Governor is fine, hale and hearty as well as other occupants of the other affected vehicle. The Comrade Governor is wishing everyone a prosperous new year ahead”. And contrary to the reports in the social media that Oshiomhole was flown abroad, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the governor had earlier planned a trip abroad that same day and not as if he travelled out due to injuries from the accident. Sunday Vanguard spoke with the governor shortly after the accident and he was full of praises to God for saving his life.

Killer axis
Reacting to the accident, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Chairman of Forum of Former Chairmen of Councils in Edo South, Mr. Crosby Eribo, lamented that despite the fact that the state has produced Minister of Works and other influential individuals at the federal level, government is yet to fix the ever busy Auchi-Abuja road which has led to the death of many Nigerians, particularly Edo indigenes.

Eribo, who lamented the delay to dualize the Auchi-Abuja Road, noted, “The  Ewu axis has killed many of our sons and daughters including a former chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Barr.Samson Ekhabafe, and a former CPS to the Governor. So it is sad that these avoidable accidents kept reoccurring yet Edo sons have held positions as Minister of Works. We thank God for our Comrade Governor’s life because he is doing exceedingly well for our people in Edo State and God will continue to spare his life because Nigeria needs him”.

Godfathers
Also speaking on the issue, a founding member of the PDP in Edo State, Elder Sunny Uyigue, attributed the accident to “evil plots of the enemies of our governor.”
He went on, “Since he came into power, god fathers have been crying because they now know it is no longer business as usual.

Those who don’t like development in their lives, enemies of progress have been going to one native doctor to the other trying to use voodoo on the man but God Almighty who brought Oshiomhole to Edo people will always see him through. Because the man is doing the right thing, the super -rich in our state are no longer being allowed to continue to steal and milk our people, they now want to kill him.

The first accident was when a truck ran directly rammed into his car in Edo North and they did not know he was driving another car and that was how he was saved.
The second one, a bus loaded with plantain ran straight into his car. Haba! Why can’t they run into any other car in the convoy; why must it always be the governor’s car? These things are voodoo and no body except God can take the man’s life and the evil people must know. We thank God for his life”.