Former Governor of Lagos State and one of the leaders of the newly registered APC said there can be no justification for the daily massive loss of lives witnessed in Nigeria due to bad roads. Tinubu said this in a condolence message to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ over the death of their officials in a road accident which occurred recently.
“This preventable loss of lives saddens me and it is a colossal one.These journalists where on official assignment and to die in such a gruesome way is regrettable. Their deaths brings to fore the lack of any functional transportation system and the terrible nature of Nigerian roads”.
Tinubu believes the death of these talented journalists has robbed the media of some of its brightest minds and prayed for fortitude for the media to bear the loss suffered. He urged the media to see this just as a temporary bump in the greater battle to secure for Nigeria a government that will be committed to infrastructural development and good governance.
The journalists who died in the Osu crash were Adolphus Okonkwo, NUJ National Financial Secretary; Tunde Oluwanaike, Chairman of the Radio Nigeria Ibadan Network Chapel and Kafayat Odunsi of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Tejuosho, Lagos.
While extending heartfelt condolences to the families of these journalists, Tinubu prayed that they will find comfort and strength at a time like this. According to him, the country is the greatest looser if hard working professionals and patriots die cheaply on our roads because those responsible for fixing our roads and providing Nigerians alternative mass transportation system are irresponsible. “The death of these journalists, like that of countless other Nigerians are preventable. Sadly, what should be an exception has become the norm. Daily reports of ghastly deaths on our roads are now common place and there is little hurry on the part of those in power to act in a timely fashion”.
Tinubu called on the media never to shy away from exposing the rot on our roads and the overall infrastructural rot all around the country.”Through investigative journalism, the media can expose the fraud going on in the name of transportation. Through journalistic curiosity, the media can also find out why Nigeria to date has no single functional transportation system and where all the billions have gone. The media carries the burden of exposure because the might of its pen can wrought much needed changes”.
Sunday Dare
