From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has denied reports that he was seriously injured, flown abroad and hospitalised following injuries he purportedly sustained in an auto crash between his convoy and a J5 bus stocked tomatoes in late December, 2013.
The accident occurred at Ewu, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state on December 28, 2013.
While presiding over the first State Executive Council meeting of the year on Monday, said he was neither seriously injured nor flown abroad for treatment, reassuring the people that he is well and alive.
“All those stories about being hospitalized and being under intensive care in an undisclosed hospital are figments of the imagination of those who were parroting the story,” the governor said.
“It is true that on the 28th December, 2013, at about 10am, I was heading from my village to Benin City to receive the Vice President (Namadi Sambo) who was visiting Uromi to attend the birthday celebration of Chief Tony Anenih. Even though he was on a private visit, I am obliged by protocol to receive him,” he narrated.
Continuing he said: “I believe somewhere in Ewu, a bus that was packed with goods veered off its lane and headed straight to my car and hit the car. But for the fact that the car is armored, it would have somersaulted given its impact and the bus driver was clearly on high speed.”
The governor said in spite of the incident, he was still able to go to the airport to receive the Vice President and urged the people of the state to continue to cooperate with his administration.