Akpabio Vs. Buhari On Traffic Laws
Amazingly, of all people and things, Godswill Akpabio, a former Governor to the State of Akwa Ibom, who is now the Senate Minority Leader while in a convoy, his jeep reportedly ran the traffic light, hitting the vehicle of some US embassy officials of President Barack Obama; who according to President Muhammadu Buhari, played a significant part in ushering in a new change in Nigeria in terms law and order.
Reports from the media showed that the accident happened in the early morning of the day as Akpabio was heading to the international airport for London with his convoy’s lights in full display and sirens blowing; as if he was in an authorized emergency vehicle as it relates to life and death matters.
This incident revealed that Akpabio has yet to liberate himself from the disease of traffic lawlessness which was so pervasive during the days of the Jonathan presidency, when the madness of blaring sirens indiscriminately by political and privileged leaders was all too common to the detriment of public peace and smooth flow of traffic.
It was just in May of this year, when the then President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, while in his own convoy educated police and military security personnel attached to him to always respect traffic rules during his movements.
Buhari reportedly noted that “Without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders.”
The then President-elect further noted, as if he knew of the coming of the Akpabio saga, that the “arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in his government.”
Lamentably, Buhari vexed in mind about the ongoing situations where fellow citizens “are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the arrogant lawlessness of the leaders.”
Akpabio, who fortunately survived the accident and is alive, has no choice but to recondition himself from the ‘do as I like days’ and precondition his mind to the Buhari era where law and order matters.
For a man who is now a Senator involved in making and enacting laws in the National Assembly, hence forth, as part of his personal and official responsibilities, he should serve as a model, and start obeying rules pertaining to traffic-control devices.
Apkabio, must make sure that any vehicle he is in, except if he is in an ambulance that he obeys the instructions of traffic-control signs in order to keep our roads safe.
In fact, as a lawmaker, we want to see him become a prominent advocate of traffic signs obedience, and it our national prayer that this accident will not cause life-altering injuries to his future.
Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Florida based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, a specialist in Police/Prison Affairs and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. [email protected] , drjohneoshodi.com