I had a medical appointment in Lagos on Saturday 07/11/2009 and decided to set out from Ibadan early enough considering that there will be time wasting in Ogere because of the notorious petroleum tankers. Unfortunately, a little after the Sat Guru Maharaji Village, I met the convoy of a politician whom I later learnt was the Deputy Governor of oyo state, One Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.

His convoy was moving at about 100/km per hour on the Lagos - Ibadan express way. Because of his slow pace traffic began to build up. Those of us behind him made a move to overtake him only for the policemen in the escort van to warn us never to overtake the convoy. Every vehicle that tried to overtake the convoy failed as Arapaja took over a federal road and forced us all to travel at his speed. We were able to exchange words with the policemen only at Ogere when we were all made to wait until the mobile policemen cleared the traffic for him after which they left us in the holdup. I know CBN does this when moving cash and that is understandable.

Now the questions are

(1) What was Taofeek Arapaja's limit of power as a Deputy Governor travelling on a federal road?

(2) Is there any law in forbidding the overtaking of the convoy of a Deputy Governor travelling on a federal road?

(3) What makes our policemen so susceptible to being used by these politicians to subvert the will of the populace?

(4) If i had a medical emergency or job interview, is this how Taofeek Arapaja would have ruined my chances?

I would only answer your third question, which of course you must know. They are better remunerated when they give their loyalty to politicians!

No law forbids anyone from overtaking.

My idea about nigeria till further notice is that anything is possible here, even the impossible is possible,

I think it is because of security concerns.You might be a hired assassin on a drive by shooting or bombing.I think they are right but they are always faster than what you said.Its frustrating but their is nothing you can do about it as it is 9ja and you don't want accidental discharge.

I think it is because of security concerns.You might be a hired assassin on a drive by shooting or bombing.I think they are right but they are always faster than what you said.Its frustrating but their there is nothing you can do about it as it is 9ja and you don't want accidental discharge.

@ Poster

If they were actually moving at 100km/hr, they must be indirectly telling you that you are not suppose to travel at a speed more than that.
Although i am not very sure but i think the speed limit on that highway is actually 100km/hr.

U are very lucky you were not mistaken for a hired killer and shot!

saltnsugar:

I think it is because of security concerns.You might be a hired assassin on a drive by shooting or bombing.I think they are right but they are always faster than what you said.Its frustrating but their is nothing you can do about it as it is 9ja and you don't want accidental discharge.

What if the assassin is coming from the opposite direction All a dem a idiots

Shady Deal:

I had a medical appointment in Lagos on Saturday 07/11/2009 and decided to set out from Ibadan early enough considering that there will be time wasting in Ogere because of the notorious petroleum tankers. Unfortunately, a little after the Sat Guru Maharaji Village, I met the convoy of a politician whom I later learnt was the Deputy Governor of oyo state, One Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.

His convoy was moving at about 100/km per hour on the Lagos - Ibadan express way.

I understand your plight and know for sure that no law prevents anyone from overtaking. My issue with the highlighted point is that you claim he was moving slow at 100km/hr. The last time i checked, 100km/hr is the MAX. speed limit on that highway.

are you trying to assasinate him?

hmmm. . I don't think the DG should be at that speed (if really slow cos I'm not a driver) on a federal express road. I beleive he is the one going against the law.

Overtaking wouldn't come into mind, if he were driving at the speed the road is supposed.

tpia.:

are you trying to assasinate him?

lol

If he acts like this as a deputy what will happen when we becomes a governor?

tpia.:

are you trying to assasinate him?

Assasinate an unknown entity?

phuck_NL:

. The last time i checked, 100km/hr is the MAX. speed limit on that highway.

Yeah, if they are going at that speed , then I dont think they did much wrong here. Thats the limit anyways.

chosen04:


Assasinate an unknown entity?

To you he is unknown. Maybe popular to others

Like you have said, they were moving at 100K/h, so how fast would you want to move on those death trap of a road?
1. Why would the police allowed you to pass a deputy governor, what happened when you get to his side and opened fire on him? it is their job to protect him and that is what they have done.
2. If you have a job interview and it is in a different City, i will advice that would have been better for you to have gone a nite before, so as to be settled and prepare and be ready, same goes for medical surgeries.
These being said, i know the police are animals and their approach are never human, and that is sad.

I think is for security reasons.

wasnt it this same nairaland where someone for asking for details about governor's convoys.


what on earth is wrong with you Nigerians.

must you always be anarchic.

why not ask for locations and details of yahoo yahoo scammers and armed robbers.

Is it because you know you may not survive any such enquiry?

the Nigerian govt sef e get as e be, with all kinds of rubbish that goes on in this site.

My brother, you would agree with me that both politicians and those that do the follow-follow all feel like gods as soon as they get into office.

I wish they can emulate they counterparts abroad who do not see themselves as being above the law.

Recently in Ghana, ministers and other top politicians were made to go to work on public transportation to know what the ordinary person goes through on a daily basis.

I do hope you were able to meet up with your appointment.

Cheers.

@shady there is no law saying u cant overtake a governors convoy, but believe me those police guys think there is one

OP calling himself Shady Deal

registered Oct 2009

24 posts

is this rocket science?


@ OP :

if you like go and register ten separate user ids to attack me.

@phuck NL
100km/hr is not the MAX. speed limit on that road or any other highway, it is just a recommended speed 4U 'cos of safety.
FYI, travelling @ 100km/hr in a car whose windows r wound-up is damn SLOW.

I believe it may be for security reasons.Though this particular road in question is a death trap now. But this is not to exonerate our inhuman politicians and their excesses.

puskin:

@phuck NL
100km/hr is not the MAX. speed limit on that road or any other highway, it is just a recommended speed 4U 'cos of safety.
FYI, travelling @ 100km/hr in a car whose windows r wound-up is damn SLOW.

U want them to speed on the death trap roads?

actually if they had sirens going ( which I dont think you mentioned) they have right of way , 100KM per hour is not a bad speed especially for the bad roads in Naija

So because of the security of some fat-arse idiot alhaji i'm not allowed to make my medical appointment? Funny how these stupid politicians have the best of security while the masses live precariously.

The stupid DG can crash and die in a pothole for all i care.

For all those who are talking about 100Km/hr as the maximum speed on that road, I will excuse your ignorance. The rickety buses that set out at iwo road do a faster speed than that.

Like an enlightened poster said above, 100km/hr is recommended. I was concerned with my safety and was riding in a new car. That not withstanding, the DG had the right to travel at 100km/hr, but does he have the power to deny others the right to choose their own speed limit?

What I do know of our politicians is that they travel at neck breaking speed. In that way, nobody can overtake them. But it is weird for this man to travel at the speed of a normal person and insist on not being overtaken.

@tpia

I learnt you got registered in Nairaland on the day you were born. Congrats!

The poster wrote "moving at about 100km/hr". He was not really sure of the speed but anyone who has ever followed this convoy would definitely know that they could be very annoying.

In the cities, they move at a crazy speed, even above 120km/hr, but on federal roads, they do unnecessary big men, causing traffic jam in order for people to be aware of who they are.

The Police are another entity entirely. Do they even know the law not to talk of enforcing one ?. Naija we hail thee

Why do we always look at the Nija police as some special people who should know the law?