Pix1: Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State at the bedside
of one of the casualties of last Sunday’s multiple accident at Umuchu,
Aguata Local Government Area of the state…Monday
Pix 2: (R-L) Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State comforting
one of the victims of the multiple accident. With him is Hon. Chukwuma
Umeoji, Chairman, Aguata Local Government Area.
The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano brushed aside his weekly Executive Council Meeting on Monday to visit the scene of Sunday’s fatal accident at Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of the state that claimed eleven lives and left 21 others in a critical condition.
Obiano who arrived the scene of the carnage in the morning with some of his trusted aides was received by the traditional ruler of Umuchu, His Royal Highness, Igwe Godson Ezechukwu, the Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area, Mr. Chuma Umoji and a prominent son of Umuchu and former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), Dr. Godwin Ezeemo.
Surveying the wreckage of the crash, Governor Obiano announced that the state government would pick up the medical bills of the 21 people who survived the crash and are still receiving treatment in different hospitals across the state.
He however expressed a strong displeasure over the frequent occurrence of multiple accidents in the state and declared that henceforth, the members of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the state would be more thorough in inspecting vehicles while other traffic management agencies would play their own roles in ensuring that only road-worthy vehicles are allowed to ply the roads in Anambra State.
The governor decried the wanton loss of lives caused by avoidable ghastly accidents in the state and enjoined the FRSC to institute immediate enquiry into the cause of the carnage with a view to exacting necessary punitive measures on anyone whose fault led to the crash involving a haulage truck, two sedan cars and an 18-seater bus at Afor Ibughubu Village in Umuchu.
Condoling with the bereaved families, Obiano described the accident as a serious tragedy and warned road users across the state that the recklessness that led to the massive loss of lives in the accident would no longer be tolerated. He commended the people of Umuchu for taking their grief silently and not engaging in any act that would lead to a breach of the peace.
Welcoming the governor to Umuchu, the Igwe of Umuchu, His Royal Highness Godson Ezechukwu thanked him for his swift reaction to the news of the tragedy by coming to the town to condole the bereaved families.
He observed that his subjects demonstrated a commendable level of civility in their reaction to the carnage as rather than lynching the driver of the haulage truck that caused the accident, they actually arrested him and handed him over to the police. He reminded the governor that the people of Umuchu had also arrested a suspected kidnapper in their midst and handed him over to the authorities rather than take the laws into their hands.
The royal father also commended Governor Obiano for the great strides of his administration and assured him of the support of his community at all times. Also speaking, the Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area, Mr. Chukwuma Umoji commended the governor for his prompt response to the distress call of the people, describing him as the governor with the milk of human kindness.
Governor Obiano also visited the Divine Mercy Hospital, Umuchu some casualties; Mike Ezeobi and Caroline Ezeh were receiving a medical attention and subsequently visited one of the victims on intensive care at the General Hospital, Onitsha.