GOVERNOR of the oil-rich state of Rivers in Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday faced grievous danger
as a reckless motorist slammed into his convoy along Igwuruta Road in the state capital city of Port Harcourt.
Reports say that the governor was on his way to the Port Harcourt International Airport at the time of the accident.
According to eyewitnesses, a driver in a Toyota Avensis salon car had left its side of the dual-carriage roadway and rammed into Governor Amaechi’s convoy just after the C41 security post on the Port Harcourt International Road.
The number plate tag of the Lagos-registered vehicle was given as AAA 767 AQ.
The governor and his security aides have been sensitive about his safety in recent months, especially as tensions grow between rival political camps in the state.
Earlier in April this year, security covers of important government officials in the state were removed by police authorities who claimed the same ‘orders from above’ that Nigerian security personnel often cite in tense moments.
Officials in the state interpreted the removal of their security details as precursor to deadly attacks on them and cried out against the action.
It is unclear if the removals of the security details have been reversed.
Governor Amaechi has also been in the eye of the storm between contending forces within the rank and file of the Nigeria Governors Forum that he chairs.
An election held last month to elect a new chairperson for the 36-member body of Nigerian state governors turned into a comedy of errors of sorts when a day after Mr. Amaechi was announced winner, Governor Jonah Jang of the middlebelt Plateau State claimed he was the winner.
It was the latest sign of divisions within the ranks of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, where interests believed to be sympathetic to President Jonathan are massing against Governor Amaechi.
Last month, the Peoples Democratic Party suspended the governor from the party for reason what was purported to be activities inimical to the interests of the party. Observers have since criticized the allegation for his suspension as flimsy excuses.