Peter Obi Blames Current Government for Road Accidents in Kogi, Enugu

Peter Obi, the former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Nigerian elections, has held the current government accountable for the recent tragic deaths of 35 people in separate road accidents in Kogi and Enugu states. Obi attributed these fatalities to deteriorating road conditions and increasing insecurity under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a series of posts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and criticized the government’s priorities in addressing the country’s infrastructure and security needs.

Two separate accidents—one on Sunday along the Okene/Lokoja bypass in Kogi, and another on Tuesday along the Nsukka/Enugu road in Enugu—resulted in 19 and 16 deaths respectively. The Nigerian Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Enugu State Police Command have confirmed these numbers.

Obi emphasized that the poor state of the country’s internal roadways and ongoing security challenges likely contributed to these tragedies. He suggested that the government prioritize repairing existing roads before embarking on large-scale projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway, a 700-kilometre construction initiative that has faced criticism for its massive resource allocation.

“My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Obi stated in his posts. He added that the focus should be on improving road safety and reducing accidents by investing in better infrastructure and addressing security issues.

Obi has previously criticized the federal government for its allocation of resources, arguing that funds should be directed toward essential projects rather than grandiose developments. His latest remarks have sparked controversy, with some government officials accusing him of inciting ethnic divisions, a claim he has repeatedly denied.