PDP presidential Campaign: Katsina governor's convoy in deadly auto accidents

Details: Category: Politics; Published on Tuesday, 15 March 2011 23:07; Written by Admin; Hits: 1946

Gov. Ibrahim Shehu Shema survived a Tuesday car crash that left four dead as he travelled to meet the president in Daura, officials said.

shema_accident It was the second fatal crash in recent weeks involving President Goodluck Jonathan's bid to extend his mandate. An Associated Press reporter said he counted three dead and 11 injured people at the Federal Medical Center in Katsina, the capital of Katsina state. Most of the victims were passengers on a bus which collided head-on with the governor's car.

The governor and his driver were unharmed, but his aide-de-camp, Aminu Ibrahim, died inside the car. Ibrahim was buried immediately after the crash, bringing the number of dead to four.

Shema was going to escort Jonathan to pay tribute to a traditional ruler before the start of his presidential rally.

We learnt that a commercial bus collided with Governor Ibrahim Shema’s official car at Zakaliya village in Dutsi Local Government Area of Katsina State yesterday, resulting in the death of five persons including the governor’s Aide-de-Camp [ADC], Assistant Superintendent of Police Aminu Ibrahim. Another bus also lost control and fell into a ditch. There were a total of twenty six people in the three vehicles. The accident which involved the official vehicle of the state governor and two other commercial vehicles occurred on the Katsina to Daura highway. "

A Christian from the south, Jonathan is trying to win votes from Nigeria's Muslim north. However, many northerners believe they should have another turn in the nation's highest office.

It isn't the first fatal crash involving Jonathan's campaign. During a Feb. 12 visit to Port Harcourt, a vehicle in Jonathan's large presidential convoy crashed into a civilian automobile just outside the southern city. Local newspapers reported at least two people died instantly in the crash, though authorities would not confirm that.

Car crashes are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained roads. Even main cities are linked by pitted, two-lane roads crammed with passenger buses, trucks laden with goods and rickety private vehicles. Drivers often travel at high speed and overtake slower vehicles, leading to head-on collisions and high death tolls.

Politicians' convoys are also accused of disregarding the country's often-flouted traffic rules, with armed men with machine-guns using threats and force to push traffic out of the way.