Peter Obi steps in to mediate rising tensions between lorry drivers and the police on Kogi highway, aiming to resolve the conflict and restore order.
Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate for the Labour Party, intervened on Tuesday to defuse a tense situation in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Kogi State.
His prompt intervention helped prevent the conflict between lorry drivers and police officers from escalating further following an altercation over an alleged shooting incident.
The tension started when a police officer allegedly shot the tire of a trailer, inciting protests from other truck drivers in the vicinity.
The situation led to major disruptions, as a lengthy line of stationary vehicles blocked nearly half a kilometer of the road.
Dr. Valentine Obienyem, who serves as Obi’s special media adviser, recounted the event by explaining that Obi and his convoy departed from Onitsha early on Tuesday morning.
Upon arriving at the scene, they encountered a traffic standstill. Seeing the rising tension, Obi intervened to mediate and successfully helped calm everyone down while restoring order.
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He went on to explain, “After investigating, we discovered that the police had shot a trailer driver’s tire. In response, all the trailer drivers present blocked the road in protest.”
At that moment, Obi got out of his vehicle and walked to the epicenter, where he encountered hundreds of drivers protesting against the mistreatment of their colleagues on one side and commuters who felt stranded and delayed by the chaos.
His arrival alleviated the tense atmosphere among both drivers and frustrated commuters, who quickly became cheerful and started chanting “Our President!”
When Obi approached the driver, who had been speaking in Hausa and lamenting over his damaged tire with tears, the man’s mood instantly shifted.
Instead of continuing to lament, he started taking selfies with Mr. Obi, sparking a widespread selfie craze among the crowd.
Without even waiting for Obi to ask, the driver exclaimed in Hausa (according to those nearby who translated), “Who am I for Obi to beg me?” and promptly cleared the road, much to everyone’s relief.
Other than the driver, the group of drivers and passengers who were delayed by the protest seized the opportunity to take selfies with Obi.
