Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, experienced what ordinary motorists go through at the hands of reckless bullion van drivers as he narrowly escaped disaster when a Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s bullion van rammed into his convoy.
Governor Amosun’s Senior Special Assistant, Media, Adejuwon Soyinka, in a statement, confirmed the incident. He said: “Governor Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday, escaped unhurt when a convoy of bullion vans belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, rammed the governor’s convoy on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“The incident, which occurred around Ibafo, while the governor was travelling to Lagos for an official assignment, saw the CBN convoy damaging the escort vehicle in the governor’s convoy.
“The CBN convoy, driving dangerously, attempted to overtake the governor’s convoy without regards for the safety of other road users.
“On sensing danger, the Ogun Governor’s escort commander used a public address system mounted on his vehicle to warn the CBN convoy to desist from such reckless driving.
“Not only was the Governor’s escort commander ignored, the CBN convoy drivers went ahead to ram his vehicle and subsequently went after other vehicles in the Governor’s convoy, including the Governor’s official car, before they were brought to a halt by the security team attached to the Governor.”
Gov reacts
Soyinka quoted the governor, in reacting to the incident, as saying “this is lawlessness and the height of impunity.” He added that “if this could happen to a governor within his territory, you can imagine what they would do to our citizens who are simply going about their legitimate business.”
Governor Amosun expressed disappointment with the reckless manner in which the CBN bullion van convoy often conducts itself on the road and warned that such acts of impunity will not be tolerated within the borders of Ogun State. “We will not allow such senseless and reckless behaviour in Ogun State,” Governor Amosun said. According to Soyinka, “this is not the first time the governor would have cause to personally caution reckless CBN convoy drivers in Ogun State.
“On several occasions, the governor have had to turn back reckless CBN bullion van drivers, who often drive against traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.”
