The Tears That Rattles Oshiomhole

While friends and supporters of the Action Congress and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are mourning over the Supreme Court judgement upholding the 2007 presidential election in favour of Alhaji Musa Yar'Adua, their mourning seem to not be coming to an end quickly following the news of the death of the Personal Assistant to Governor Oshiomhole, Mr Greg Haruna and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chris Nwachukwu in a ghastly motor accident on th Auchi road last Saturday.

This incidence has come to Rivers State AC with a rude shock. The members of the AC in the state are hard to believe this. They see the two deceased as a beacon of democracy in Edo. Their appointments were made recently at Benin to celebrate the victory over undemocratic elements in Edo State and the Appeal Court judgment that restored the stolen mandate of the people of Edo State to its rightful winner.

Rivers AC has refused to accept the news, even as it was in the Network news, until it was confirmed by Prince Austin Eweka, the National Vice Chairman of AC, South-South. The comfirmation was through a telephone conversation with Rivers AC Leader, Prince Tonye TJT Princewill – late night on Saturday.

The Rivers AC now mourns with Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the people of Edo State over the sudden deaths. Princewill urges them to take solace. He describes deceased men as men who lived a life of selfless service not only to the people of Edo State but the entire country.

He said: “At least, through their doggedness, and never say die spirit and attitude, the stolen mandate of the Edo People was recovered and a genuine democracy is now being practised in Edo State. We lack the words to express our grief but we are comforted with the truism that as true believers we will soon meet with them in order not depart from each other again. It is sad but who are we to confront God over this type of incident that people who laboured and suffered to put Edo State at the path of righteousness and greatness could not live to put into practical terms the ideals and virtues of actualising these goals”.

Rivers AC is told that this accident occurred while the driver was trying to dodge a pothole, which is common on Nigerian roads not minding the huge amount of money being appropriated but siphoned every year by our so called Leaders while these roads are not attended to.

The Rivers AC prays the Federal Government to do everything possible to put these roads in order as the carnage on the roads caused by neglect and lack of vision on the side of the various Governments in Nigeria, is no longer acceptable to it. These roads are the only means through which the common man travels, as we cannot afford the exorbitant air tickets that can only be afforded by especially those in Government.

Dr.Brian Wilfred is Communication Assistant to Prince Tonye TJT Princewill