KOGI CRASH: NO FOREIGN TREATMENT FOR ME – WADA

• SUV tyres burst twice in six days; overdue for replacement 
• Probe blames accident on overspeeding

Governor Idris Ichalla Wada of Kogi State is not going abroad to treat the injuries he received in last Friday’s auto-crash near Lokoja involving his convoy.

The governor, whose aide de camp (ADC),Idris Mohammed,an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) died in the crash, wants to complete his treatment in Nigeria.

He is currently at Cedar Crest Hospital,Garki,Abuja where he had a surgery on Friday night,a few hours after the accident.

The governor’s physician, Dr.Felix Ogedengbe, said yesterday that he was “fine and in high spirits” after succesfully undergoing a thigh bone operation.

He confirmed that Wada had opted for medical treatment locally.

Three governors-Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) – are currently abroad for medical treatment.

Suntai was seriously injured after his light aircraft went down in Yola, Adamawa State in October and was flown to Germany after initial treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Ogedengbe who is the Chief Medical Director, Cedar Crest Hospitals said: “Let me just add that following the treatment he received, he is back on his feet this morning. “This is just to confirm that his spirit is quite high. He is back on his feet and everything is well with him. “We received the governor into our care yesterday (Friday) and explained his injury to him. “We explained the fact that we have the capacity to treat him here as can be done anywhere in the world. “He immediately agreed to have full treatment here. He isn’t that kind of person that will say I don’t care what you can do; I want to be flown to anywhere else in the world.” He said Wada gave his consent for treatment which was “immediately done” by a team of doctors. He said the injuries Wada sustained did not warrant his being taken outside the country.

“We have the capacity to handle the situation here,” Ogedengbe said,adding: “It was done as fast as it was needed to be done. There is no immediate need for him to be flown anywhere. He is stable. He is fine. “His injuries have been looked after to a standard that is up to what is available in any part of the world. He quite understands that and he was happy to accept the treatment. And he is quite happy with the outcome of the treatment.” On when the governor would be discharged, Ogedengbe said: “The treatment is ongoing. You know he has been involved in a major accident. “He needs some days in hospital. We need to monitor his progress and see how he is doing. “I can’t give a date of discharge as at now. I will tell you that he will be out of hospital as soon as possible.

“We received him here in a condition that was very stable. “We were told he had been involved in a car crash. He had already been to another hospital before he was brought here. “However, when he got here, we assessed him. As I said, there were no immediate life threatening injuries. “He was found to have fracture in his thigh bone. That was assessed. “A whole team did a comprehensive assessment on him and we decided to take him to theatre. “He has had the bone that was broken fixed and he had a very good night sleep and he is quite fine now. “He had woken up this morning (yesterday). He has had his meal and is doing very well. “So as much as I can tell you, he is stable. He is not in a condition where his life is threatened at all. He is doing very well at the moment.” The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy , Mr Jacob Edi said: “ I spoke to him. I shook hands with him. He waved to a lot of people.” On the condition of the driver, Edi said: “The driver, Jibril Isa, is also stable and alive. The driver is stable and alive. He is at Kogi Specialist Hospital,Lokoja.” Armed policemen and plain clothes securitymen were guarding the hospital located in Garki Area 11,Abuja. Leading politicians including Vice President Namadi Sambo have been trooping to Governor Wada’s private ward in the hospital to congratulate him for escaping death and to wish him a quick recovery.

Other callers include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim , Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali,the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Senators, over 50 House of Representatives members and some notable politicians from Kogi state. However ,the preliminary investigation of the accident suggests that the Friday auto crash may have been caused by over-speeding.

The crash occurred at Emi Woro village,about 12 kilometres from Lokoja when one of the tyres of the governor’s official car,a Lexus SUV,burst in motion and somersaulted.

It was the second time in six days the car had a burst tyre,The Nation learnt yesterday.

It was also gathered that the governor ‘s thriftiness with public funds has often slowed down the release of money for government expenditure including replacing tyres for the governor’s official car.

The SUV’s tyres, a highly placed source said yesterday, were worn out and overdue for replacement before the accident.

The source said: “The Federal Road Safety Commission has started looking into the immediate and remote causes of the accident. Preliminary investigation is pointing to over-speeding going by the extent of impact.

“The governor spent much time at the Igala Education Summit at the state university in Anyigba. He also had an appointment in Lokoja with some traditional rulers who wanted to honour his benefactor, ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris. He wanted to be part of the gathering.

“The theory of over-speeding is being fuelled by the allegation that it was the second time in six days that the governor’s SUV would have a burst tyre.

“A few days ago when the governor’s convoy was coming from Abuja, it had burst tyre but because the team was not on top speed, they had no accident.

“The FRSC will give a more accurate report to the presidency, the state government and after security clearance, it may make it available to the public.”

It was gathered that the governor had turned down a proposal for the State government to buy three brand new SUVs at N100miliion each.

He reportedly considered the amount too high.

The source added: “The governor said he could not spend N100million on a SUV much more N300million on three SUVs.

“In fact, he said it was better to spend the N300million to provide potable water for some villages than spending same on SUV. Wada runs an austere policy to the detriment of his personal comfort.

“He wants state officials to justify every kobo. This might have had a backlash on him with this accident.”

A source familiar with the matter said: “The transport pool had warned about the tyres of the SUV ; that the tyres were due for change after six months because they were bought in May 2012. The pool said ideally the tyres of a busy SUV like this ought to be changed every six months.

“In the last two weeks, there had been moves to change the tyres but the official process was a bit slow. In fact, the late ADC, Idris Mohammed, wanted to use his personal money to change the tyres and get refund later.”

Source: The nation