Comrade Oshiomole has ordered that the accident which killed three journalists in his convoy be investigated.

EDO State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday claimed that the accident involving his convoy at the weekend in which three journalists died was an attempt on his life because the tipper driver rammed into his official vehicle while the smaller car he was personally driving escaped by the whiskers.
In a reaction, the Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) yesterday condoled with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Edo State government over the death of the three journalists.

The three dead journalists are George Okosun and Fidelis Ohani (cameramen) and Olatunji Jacob, a reporter.

The PDP, in a condolence message signed by its Publicity Secretary, Matthew Uroghide, “views the death of the three persons as a colossal loss to the journalism profession in particular and the state in general.”

On its part, the state NMA in a condolence statement by its chairman, secretary and spokesman, Philip Ugbodaga, Emmanuel Ighodaro and Dr. Kennedy Alohan respectively, said the “Association is pained as we had severally worked with them (deceased journalists) in the course of our health and political advocacy and can easily attest to their industry, dedication and commitment to the practice of their profession. Their death represents a very sad loss not only to the journalism profession but to the entire nation and to humanity.”

Also, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressed “shock and sadness” over the death of three journalists.

And the Labour Party (LP) yesterday called for an immediate probe of the crash.

Oshiomhole, who gave a graphic description of the incident, told the media at Government House, Benin City yesterday that it took officials 40 minutes to remove the victims from the mangled bus.

His words: “If I was in my regular official jeep, the guy could have hit me. I was in a small car, which I decided to drive myself. If I was in my official jeep, it could have been my lot. The tipper driver pushed my small car off the road and then crushed the one journalists were driving in.
“Now, it is a straight road and not a bend so if he was losing control, he could have swerved into the bush. When I asked the motor boy yesterday where the driver was, he said the driver had opened the door of the vehicle and left. The motor boy claimed the driver just asked him to follow him on the trip.

“But I asked him, you are not under 18 and somebody just tell you follow me and then the man passed his town, passed another and got to another local council and you still did not ask questions? Well, we’ve asked the SSS and the police to investigate. Then before we know anything, PDP is already issuing condolence message.

But in a reaction yesterday on the insinuation that his party may have a fore-knowledge of the incident, Uroghide said it was wrong for anybody to read meanings into its condolence message.

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State who was involved in an accident over the weekend has ordered that the accident which killed three journalists in his convoy be investigated.