Tanker Explosions: Obi mourns victims, commiserates with Kogi, Lagos

Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) in 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has described as painfully sadand heartbreaking, the tanker explosions that claimed precious lives of peopleat Lokoja – Abuja Road, Kogi State, and the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos.

In a press release from his Media Office on Friday,Obi lamented that barely few hours after a tanker explosion claimed no fewer than 23 lives in Kogi State, another gas tanker explosion occurred in Lagos,leaving behind monumental destruction. He said the news of such tragedies werevery worrisome and called for serious concern from all quarters.

Obi, who noted that most of the victims of Kogi tankerexplosion were reportedly school children and students of Kogi StatePolytechnic, said that it was heartbreaking to imagine the pain of losing suchfuture leaders to the cold hands of death.

Decrying the alarming rate of road accidents inNigeria today, Obi said: “We must not turn a blind eye to the frequentoccurrence of road accidents in the country. We all must play our part inensuring that these ugly disasters are eradiated or minimally reduced. Letgovernments at all levels ensure that the road networks under their care arewell maintained. Road users own the duty of ensuring that their vehicles areroad worthy and they obey all road traffic regulations. Let us all join hands toend these ugly menace.”

The former Anambra State Governor called on thecounty’s transport authorities, traffic and road management officials and otherlaw enforcement agencies to enforce the road safety laws with more seriousness.He reminded them how delicate their jobs were and how a mere act of negligenceor oversight could result in deadly consequences for road users.

Obi commiserated with the Kogi and Lagos state governmentsover what he described as very unpleasant and challenging moments for them andthe nation at large. He condoled with the families of the victims while prayingGod to grant the dead eternal rest.

“My deepest condolences go to the affected familiesand the government and people of both Kogi and Lagos states. May God strengthenyou all through these trying times as we continue to pray for the repose of thedead,” Obi added.