UNEDITED PRESS STATEMENT
GOVERNOR MATAWALLE TO INTRODUCE DEATH SENTENCE ON RECKLESS DRIVERS, OFFERS MONITARY GESTURE TO RELATIONS OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS
His Excellency Zamfara State Executive Governor Hon Dr. Bello Mohammed MON (Matawallen Maradun) has promised to reintroduce serious punitive measures of death on reckless drivers in the state.
The Governor who revealed this today when he led Members of his Executive Council and the Management of BUA Group to a condolence visit to the Emir of Gusau Alhaji Ibrahim Bello over the death of 15 Persons from the Emirate also said such drivers will be compelled by law to pay compensation on every life lost.
Governor Matawalle who expressed sadness over the death of 15 persons who lost their lives as a result of reckless driving by a truck driver who ran into and killed them last Wednesday along Gusau/Funtua road announced a donation of N2 million to families of each of the deceased who had a wife and N1.5 million to families of those unmarried among them.
The governor in his magnanimity likewise declared that he will put the next of kins of each of the victims on a monthly allowance of N50,000 each.
He stated that the 15 next of kins will remain on the state’s payroll till the end of his tenure as governor of the state.
He said his administration will introduce speed limit gauge on highways as well as weight measurement on trucks and drug tests on drivers in order to guard against rough and reckless driving which usually end up on fatalities.
Matawalle noted that the measures had become necessary so that drivers and their families will no longer think they will have it easy if the drivers kill anyone adding that the lives of the citizens of the state are more valuable than any other thing.
He urged management of BUA company to call their drivers to order and caution them on acceptable speed limit.
He described the accident which claimed the 15 lives as monumental and called on the families of the deceased to consider it as an act of Allah, praying that the deceased persons’ souls will be accepted in Jannatul Firdaus.
Earlier, the team leader from BUA, Engr. Aminu Suleiman said they were in the state to condole with the government, Gusau emirate, people of the state and the immediate families of those who were killed as a result of accident involving the company’s driver.
He prayed Allah to forgive the short comings of the deceased and for the government and people of the state to take heart over the unfortunate incident.
In his response, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello thanked Governor Matawalle and BUA company over their concern noting that every life must taste death and that as Muslims, such happenings are usually seen as an act of Allah who knows best why they happen at the time they happen.
The monarch assured that the governor’s donation will be utilized strictly for the intended purposes.
The condolence visit was attended by Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasiru Muazu Magarya, SSG, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Chief of Staff, Col. Bala Mande (rtd), Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Bashir Mohammed Maru and the Permanent Secretary Office of the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Jafaru Maradun among others.
YUSUF IDRIS GUSAU
Director General Media, Public Enlightenment and Communication.
Government House, Gusau.
29th August, 2020