Amaechi Trying To Save Lives Of The Okogbe Fire Victims

In a time of sorrow such as Rivers State on Thursday 12th July, 2012 witnessed, when over 200 persons were burnt in an attempt to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker, trading of blames should be minimized, but not totally avoided.

Information reaching us was the blame on Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his Deputy that they were absent in office on 13th July when about six governors wanted to pay him a sympathetic visit on Friday, July 13, 2012, but the governors were stopped because of the development.

Our confirmation on the whereabouts of the Governor and his Deputy shows that not only the duo, but every well meaning Rivers masses have been running round the clock in making sure that the lives of the remaining victims were saved since the incident. Doctors at the different hospitals where the victims who are alive were taken to for prompt treatment have also been working tirelessly in making sure that succour came the way of the victims.

However, inasmuch as many people have blamed the government for the worsened condition of the roads in the state, especially the Federal Government-owned roads, it is imperative that henceforth the government should stage enlightenment campaigns against scooping of fuel in such situations of a fallen tanker or a vandalized pipeline. This is essential because it is of note that both people and government do not learn from past incidents.

As Governor Amaechi is running round the clock today in making sure that the victims were saved, he should put such effort in pressurizing those whose concern is to put the roads and any decayed facilities in place, because bad roads in Nigeria is killing Nigerians economically and physically, spiritually more than the dreaded Boko Haram.

Moreover, as his administration boasts of changing strategy towards fighting crimes with jobs and not to employ criminals with guns, there will never be a good sail in those opportunities without smooth and pliable roads. Especially, investment in agriculture, so as to create employment in the state, requires good roads for effective and rejoice-able commerce and industry. Nigerians should understand that poverty is not accountable for the occurrence in Okogbe, but greed and lack of insensitivity to the danger inherent in a tanker that is conveying fuel.

Odimegwu Onwumere is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV). Mobile: +2348032552855. E-mail: