Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stepped in to defuse a tense situation in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Kogi State, on Tuesday......KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE👈
His timely intervention helped prevent further escalation between lorry drivers and police officers after an altercation erupted over an alleged shooting incident.
The tension began when a police officer reportedly shot the tyre of a trailer, sparking protests among other lorry drivers in the area.
The situation caused significant disruption, with a long line of stationary vehicles blocking the road for nearly half a kilometer.
Dr. Valentine Obienyem, special adviser to Obi on media, recounted the incident, explaining that Obi and his convoy had left Onitsha early Tuesday morning.
As they arrived at the scene, they encountered the traffic standstill. Recognizing the growing unrest, Obi stepped in to mediate, helping to calm the situation and restore order.
He continued: “Upon inquiry, we learned that the police had shot the tyre of a trailer driver, leading all the trailer drivers at the scene to block the road in protest.
“It was at that point that Obi alighted from his vehicle and walked to the epicentre where he met hundreds of drivers protesting the ill-treatment meted to their colleagues on one hand and commuters who felt stranded and delayed by the commotion.
“His arrival doused the tense atmosphere among the drivers and angry commuters alike who quickly turned cheerful, with chants of ‘Our President!’
“When Obi got to the driver who spoke in Hausa language and had been crying over his damaged tyre, the man’s mood changed instantly.
“Rather than continue to lament, he began taking selfies with Mr. Obi, and soon, an epidemic of selfies broke out among the crowd.
“Without even waiting for Obi to plead with him, the driver exclaimed in Hausa (as translated by those nearby), Who am I for Obi to beg me and immediately cleared the road, much to everyone’s relief.
“Apart from the driver the crowd of drivers and passengers who were delayed by the protest took advantage of Obi’s presence to take selfies with him.”