Spokesman of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress Bayo Onanuga has narrated how he narrowly escaped death, as a car on the convoy of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar crashed into his car on Sunday night.
Onanuga, who first published the incident on his verified Facebook Timeline said he the accident occurred around 9pm, Sunday night, on the Shehu Shagari Way, in the Federal Capital Territiry, Abuja, while returning from a visit to one of the strategy meetings with Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.
He said he had slowed down on his lane to make way for the convoy emerging from one of the roads unto the Shehu Shagari Way, but slowing down turned out to be his undoing and a big mistake that almost cost him his life as a Toyota SUV emerged from the same road where the convoy had emerged and rammed straight into his car.
Onanuga, Managing Director of The News/PM News said rather than come down to even inspect the damage, he was petrified that the driver of the Toyota SUV merely reversed the car and joined the convoy, leaving him to his fate.
“He didn’t even bother to stop to check the damage his vehicle had done to my own car, whether he had left me or anyone inside it traumatised by his recklessness as he just drove off.
He said he instinctively followed the convoy which headed to the Asokoro end of the city, even if to accost the reckless driver and to ensure he get his car fixed, moreso as the number plate of the car carried an RSH, indicated it was a governor’s convoy.
“At this point, I didn’t know the VIP embedded in the convoy. Initially I thought it was a governor as the car that hit me bore a number plate that starts with RSH. My interest in following the convoy was to lodge a complaint about the murderous driver and get my car repaired, Onanuga said.
He went on to state that the convoy drove deep into Asokoro, into TY Danjuma Road and then entered one of the mansions, at the entrance of which were several banners of Atiku-Okowa campaign.
“I drove into the compound with the convoy as I had my hazard light on like other vehicles in the convoy. My adventure was certainly getting interesting. I, an APC and Tinubu campaigner inside the PDP Atiku-Okowa den.
“Who was the big man, whose convoy nearly killed me? Was it Okowa or Atiku or an Atiku supporter? Up till this point, I had no idea as the mystery big man had been shepherded into the house, well ahead of me by the security aides, who now accosted me as I wanted to enter the house.
“You can’t just enter the house, one of the aides blustered as some policemen blocked my path, as well.
“One of your drivers nearly killed me at the Secretariat. He damaged my car”, I shouted back and demanded to see their big man.
The drama and argument drew the attention of everyone around, and eventually, the Chief of Staff came around, tendered apology and gave a undertaken to repair the car.
Moments after, I entered my car to continue my interrupted journey home.
Because I had not cracked the mystery big man, I stopped outside to ask a guard about the owner of the house, where I just emerged.
“It’s Atiku”, he said. Another neighbor also confirmed this.
“As I drove off into the night and shared my experience with Senator Afikuyomi and others, I simultaneously imagined what the headline would have been if the accident had been more severe or had resulted into some fatality,” he further state.
The Onanuga statement reads: “I had a close shave with death on Sunday night in Abuja as I was returning home at about 9p.m. after a visit to Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi. I was driving on the first lane of Shehu Shagari Way when I noticed a convoy emerging from one of the feeder roads. I counted in the centre lane, four vehicles ahead of me. I slowed down on my own lane to give a wide berth to the convoy. My slowing down turned a mistake as a Toyota SUV emerged from the same road where the convoy had earlier emerged. It headed straight to my car. I was petrified as the driver rammed into my Toyota Camry, by the passenger side. The force of the collision immediately severed the side mirror from the body, severely dented and scratched the two doors on its path. I watched in horror as the driver of the SUV reversed the car and joined the cavalcade, leaving me behind to my fate.
He didn’t bother to stop to check the damage his vehicle had done to my own car, whether he had left me or anyone inside it traumatized by his recklessness. He just drove away.
Instinctively, I followed the convoy, which headed to Asokoro area of the city.
At this point, I didn’t know the VIP embedded in the convoy. Initially I thought it was a governor as the car that hit me bore a number plate that starts with RSH. My interest in following the convoy was to lodge a complaint about the murderous driver and get my car repaired.
The convoy drove deep into Asokoro, into TY Danjuma Road and then entered one of the mansions, at the entrance of which were several banners of Atiku-Okowa campaign. I drove into the compound with the convoy as I had my hazard light on like other vehicles in the convoy. My adventure was certainly getting interesting. I, an APC and Tinubu campaigner inside the PDP Atiku-Okowa den.
Who was the big man, whose convoy nearly killed me? Was it Okowa or Atiku or an Atiku supporter? Up till this point. I had no idea as the mystery big man had been shepherded into the house, well ahead of me by the security aides, who now accosted me as I wanted to enter the house.
You can’t just enter the house, one of the aides blustered as some policemen blocked my path, as well.
“One of Your drivers nearly killed me at the Secretariat. He damaged my car”, I shouted back and demanded to see their big man.
Our argument was creating a scene as more people came closer to behold the audacious intruder that I seemed to be.
Another aide asked me to show him the damage to the car. He introduced himself as the chief of staff and gave an undertaking to repair the car. He tendered an apology as well.
His approach mollified me. I gave him my complimentary card and we exchanged phone numbers.
Moments after, I entered my car to continue my interrupted journey home.
Because I had not cracked the mystery big man, I stopped outside to ask a guard about the owner of the house, where I just emerged.
“It’s Atiku”, he said. Another neighbor also confirmed this.
As I drove off into the night and shared my experience with Senator Afikuyomi and others, I simultaneously imagined what the headline would have been if the accident had been more severe or had resulted into some fatality.