Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and his deputy, on Friday escaped death by the whiskers when a car rammed into his convoy from the opposite direction along Yandev/Gboko road while on their way to an official assignment in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area and Gboko
The accident came a day before the governor’s 50th birthday which holds today.
The governor’s official vehicle in which he was travelling and his spare vehicle were directly affected by the impact of the crash. The two officials who were in the same vehicle escaped unhurt.
According to an eyewitness, an oncoming vehicle which overtook another vehicle lost control, somersaulted, then hit the spare vehicle of the governor as well as the vehicle in which both the governor and his deputy were travelling.
The accident happened at Angbaaye, a few kilometres after Makurdi, the state capital.
The governor’s spare vehicle was badly damaged while the impact of the accident on the oncoming vehicle was very severe.
Both the governor and his deputy however rushed to rescue the victims in the oncoming vehicle who were believed to be traders heading to Makurdi.
Governor Suswam, who detailed some top government officials to take the injured persons to the hospital in Makurdi, however, proceeded to Gboko where he flagged off road project, while his deputy alighted at Tarka Local Government where he flagged off tree planting project.
The eight people who were injured were rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for medical attention.
As a follow up to the governor’s 50th birthday ceremony which holds today, he has also scheduled a thanksgiving ceremony for tomorrow, at Aper Aku Stadium. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, workers in Benue are planning to use the occasion to pursue the payment of their three-month unpaid salaries.
Commenting on the alleged planned protest, a civil servant, said that Governor Suswam had put them in “monumental stagnation.”
A resident of Makurdi, who simply identified himself as Terver, said the capital city was now beginning to wear a new look. “We pray that President Jonathan should always propose visits to the state so that our environment will witness positive changes”, Terver said.
Commenting on the allegation that there would be a protest by workers in Benue state on Saturday, the Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, Benue State chapter, Emmanuel Jumpa, said the labour body was not aware of the planned protest.
