GUO Transport Company has condemned the assault and brutality of one of their drivers by the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Mr Ossy Onuko on Friday for overtaking his convoy at the Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
Speaking on the terrible attitude of Mr Onuko, the company stated that passengers were left traumatized and stranded by the horror displayed by a public official and called on the State Governor Professor Charles Soludo to constitute a panel to investigate and make sure there’s no repeat of such disgraceful attitude.
The statement reads, “Today, the 20th day of October 2023, one of our drivers was brutally assaulted while in transit with passengers in his vehicle for overtaking a vehicle conveying one Mr. Ossy Onuko, (MD Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA)).
We watched with great dismay, multiple videos from different eyewitnesses of how our driver was brutally beaten by Mr Ossy Onuko’s aides at the Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
Our passengers, who unfortunately witnessed this incident are still traumatized by the horror.
We thank the good, spirited individuals who witnessed and tried to intervene in this sad, inhumane act by this political officer and his aides. If not for their intervention, our driver would have lost his life in the hands of the daredevil Individuals acting as government officials who ordinarily must serve and protect law-abiding citizens. Thankfully, the driver is currently receiving medical attention, and we pray for his complete recovery physically and mentally.
Our heart goes to our passengers, who were
also left traumatized and stranded on the highway. Anambrarians and other Nigerian citizens have called to express their sympathy for the victim. They have also joined us in prayers for his recovery from the inhumane treatment meted to him by the power abuse of a government official. We assure all concerned citizens that we will seek legal redress, to ensure that such acts of inhumane treatment of citizens do not keep occurring.
We have also seen the statement from the press secretary of the Anambra State Government. We are surprised that they would want to defend the atrocious act meted out to our driver today. Suddenly, they justify this atrocious action of theirs by contending that it is our driver’s recklessness that led to his being beaten with a machete and brutalized.
The false narrative they put out without
speaking to our driver or the passengers in the vehicle who witnessed the whole incident speaks volumes.
We call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State to condemn the conduct of his officials and constitute a panel of inquiry into this incident to curtail the excesses of his officials and avoid a repeat of similar incidents which could have led to the loss of lives and chaos in the State.”
But in defense of his aides, Mr Onuko stated that the driver veered into his lane and almost caused an accident as two trucks were coming in the opposite direction but any attempt made to stop in his tracks proved abortive.
He disclosed that he was traveling with two civil defense corps who approached the driver to alight but the driver turned around to insult them. He called out to vigilante officials and policemen within the environment which led to his violent arrest as the driver resisted all attempts to arrest him.
The Press Release reads, “I have been inundated with calls and messages from well-meaning friends, colle, agues, and ndi Anambra over a video clip that has gone viral on social media regarding an altercation between a GUO driver and myself, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority.
I wish to state clearly the facts as they are, as I owe this to the public we graciously serve. Certainly, I cannot take their sensibility for granted.
This afternoon, I had finished my exams from the Igbariam campus of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and was on the way to my office in Awka, driving in the company of two civil defense officers seated in the back seat of my Toyota Hilux vehicle (there was no convoy). Suddenly, at the Ukpo axis of the Enugu/Onitsha expressway, I sighted a white colored GUO vehicle speedily approaching and trying to overtake me, given that the express road is still being used as a two-way drive, he could not meet up with his moves to overtake me and series of other vehicles in the line, as two heavy-duty trucks were approaching; he suddenly veered into my lane, it would have been a serious disaster and a lot of losses would have been counted if not for divine grace and my swift effort to steer my wheel rightly.
The said driver sped off without any sign of remorse, this infuriated me and the officers I had in my car. However, we continued with our journey, getting to Amawbia flyover we hoped to stop the driver at the police checkpoint there to ensure he was okay and know the reasons behind his reckless driving because I thought I owed that as a duty to other road users. Unfortunately in the same vein, he sped off. We knew we could still get him at their office in Awka because they have a park at UNIZIK junction. However, he stopped not at their park, but at the opposite Enugu Motor Park.
The two civil defense officers fully kitted in their uniforms approached him and asked him to alight from his bus, he locked up himself and his passengers in the bus and even attempted to overrun the officers with his vehicle. At this point the atmosphere was very heated, I had to call the police and Community-based vigilante within the environment.
While this was going on the young man eventually came down and started insulting everyone including the officers with me.
When I sighted the vigilante group vehicle, I narrated what happened to them, and told them the police were also coming and that the man should be taken to the police station for proper check as I did not think he was in the right frame of mind to be driving. Then I drove off from the scene as they made moves to take him with them. At this time, about 100 youths that heard I was having altercations at UNIZIK junction had already assembled. I enjoined them to go about their duties and let the security operatives do their job.
A few minutes later in the office, the driver called me and apologised. By then about 5 other drivers/staff of GUO who are my friends were in my office to also apologize on his behalf. I immediately told them I needed no apologies and that if not for the actions of the young man, this matter wouldn’t have escalated to the police station. I called the DPO and asked him to bail the young man if they were convinced that he was fit to drive. The DPO released him immediately.
I also learned later on that the young man resisted arrest which led to a lot of violent conduct in his arrest, I take full responsibility for all that, and I also apologize to the young man, his company GUO, and my friends and well-wishers who have been embarrassed by my association with such act.
Thank you and may God bless us all.”
In defense of Mr Onuko, the Press Secretary to Anambra State Governor, Christian Aburime maintained that the driver’s reckless driving posed a significant risk to the safety of other road users hence Mr Onuko’s intervention.
See the full statement entitled, “CLARIFICATION ON RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING ACTDA CEO, OSSY ONUKO AND GUO TRANSPORT DRIVER below;
“The Anambra State Government would like to address a recent incident involving Mr. Ossy Onuko, MD/ Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA), and a driver affiliated with GUO Transport.
The incident, captured in a trending video, occurred on a roadway in Awka. It is imperative to provide an accurate account of the events in question.
Upon observing the dangerously reckless driving behaviour exhibited by the GUO Transport driver, Mr. Onuko, who was also navigating the same thoroughfare, took it upon himself to intervene.
Recognizing the potential peril to fellow road users, he attempted to caution the driver. Regrettably, the driver chose to disregard the warnings, necessitating the intervention of security personnel to ensure compliance.
But during the process of apprehending the driver, a regrettable altercation ensued, involving the driver, Mr. Onuko, and other unidentified individuals.
We are aware that public commentary surrounding the incident has led to some misconceptions, erroneously implying that public officials associated with the Anambra State Government are predisposed to confrontations.
We wish to categorically refute these claims. The Anambra State Government, under the humane leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a society characterized by civility, decorum, and mutual respect for human rights.
We are resolute in our pursuit of an environment where residents comport themselves responsibly, mindful of the rights and welfare of others, and the collective good of the public.
Governor Soludo’s passionate dedication to cultivating a community of enlightened citizens is a principle that he anticipates will be upheld by all public servants within his administration.
It is imperative to emphasize that the Governor does not endorse or condone any official of a State Government agency taking matters into their own hands or engaging in altercations with members of the public while seeking compliance with established norms or laws.
In conclusion, the Anambra State Government wishes to reiterate its commitment to the principles of responsible governance and the welfare of all citizens.
We trust that this statement provides a clearer perspective on the incident in question.”
