Edith CHUKU
A rights activist in Rivers State, Mr Victor Dike, has urged the governor Siminalayi Fubara led state government to place a ban on river crossing without life jacket.
Dike stressed that the ban when placed should be closely monitored to ensure absolute compliance in order to avert deaths that could be avoided.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with TNN on Monday, the rights activist made a strong appeal to residents of the state to abort any journey across water if life jacket is not provided.
He expressed sympathy over the shocking demise of the astounding Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and his colleagues who were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into Anam River in Anambra State.
Stressing on the need for travelers to adhere to safety measures, Dike said, “it is just so unfortunate that most people take negligence as official responsibility which is a no. No especially when it comes to life matters.
“We should know that trusting God in negligence is suicide. It will be a welcomed development if the Rivers State government, governor Sim Fubara will place a ban on river crossing without life jacket and good life jacket at that.
“The ban should be initiated and strictly monitored. Imagine the great loss, what a disheartening incident, it’s so unfortunate that they died in that accident. I do tell people that if they had wore a life jacket no matter how demonic that supposed enchantment or plan could be there is no way they could have been submerged.
“Such journey without a life jacket is dangerous. It will be good for government to place a ban and that ban should be a very serious one on crossing the river without life jacket, because the unfortunate thing could happen and that life jacket could be an easy measure to saving lives other than cause loss of life out of recklessness and negligence. It is very pertinent that whether or not you know how to swim, to be on a safer side wearing the life jacket is needful.”
He further appealed to those responsible for providing the life jackets to know that “principally this is what they have to do. It’s like when you board an aircraft the crew will tell you to wear your seatbelt and all of that, now, have you ever seen anybody that boarded an aircraft without wearing seat belt?
“These are safety rules and must be applied and adhered to. However, if the people that are supposed to initiate that safety rules fail, you whose life is important, because these guys can swim their way out, they survive almost all the time, so you must think of your safety first.
“But again, if it is a thing that the government is concerned about, then the government should provide those facilities, those gadgets. I think the ministry of transportation also covers marine transportation, if it is not the responsibility of the government directly but that of those in charge of the water transportation they should provide those lifesaving gadgets, it’s like doing disservice to people you are supposed to provide service for.”
