The residents of the commercial city of Onitsha woke up on the May 31, 2015 to witness the recent calamity befallen the community of the former president of Nigeria, the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, when a tanker filled with fuel got burnt, killing 70 persons and injuring many in the process.
Since then, such a thing had happened in other cities in the country including Lagos.
It was not the first time such a road carnage happened in Anambra State, as over 60 person equally died at Umunya in Oyi local government area of the state in 2009, while over 20 vehicles were equally burnt.
Following the incessant road carnages along major roads in Anambra, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who also, doubles as the state chairman, Traditional Rulers council, is worried over the situation.
Obi Achebe is seeking for ways with other traditional rulers, of finding a solution to such carnages.
He said last weekend that he would meet with the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to find ways to minimise the road carnages in the state.
Achebe made the pronouncement when the leader of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) and one time Governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo paid him a courtesy visit at his palace.
According to Achebe, “we have planned to visit Governor Obiano to give workable suggestions to reduce accidents and carnages on our roads, as well as thank him for his swift responses on that day after the incident.
However, he warned that any criticism from politicians against any government had to be constructive, adding that criticisms made every government from state to federal rise up to their responsibilities.
The philanthropist (Ezeemo) who equally, visited the scene of the tanker fire incident and the hospital where the victims were kept (Toronto) went to Achebe’s palace with PPA chairman in the state, Mathias Ameke among others.
According to the monarch, “you should not relent, do not oppose with bitterness but be fair and support the leaders in noble and people oriented programmes”, he advised.
While speaking with the monarch, Ezeemo, urged the monarch to use his position to prevail on the government to look for better locations for motor parks along high ways in the state.
Ezeemo said, “I am here to condole the monarch on the loss of lives and property which happened on that fateful Sunday, I feel bad about it like wise many people within and outside this state because lives were involved”
“I want you to use your position to appeal to the Anambra State government to relocate the parks, especially, those at Upper–Iweka to more appropriate designations to avoid such a thing again”
However, Ezeemo said that his political party stood for politics of development and provision of basic needs for the citizenry.
“We have always used well timed and constructive criticism on government issues as well as applaud ruling party when it is doing the right things”
Furthermore, Ezeemo said that politics should not be seen as a do or die battle like some people take it to be.
Speaking further with The Nation, Ezeemo and Ameke said that they were in the palace of Obi Achebe because it happened in his domain, adding that the visit was given honour to whom it is due.
During the incident that occurred in the commercial city, after ramming into a building at Upper-Iweka on the day, over 14 L300 buses were burnt.
