WHY IS GOVERNOR OKOWA STILL RETAINING MR. SAMUEL AZUBIKE IDAH AS DG OF DESTMA?
September 25, 2020 | News
With recent reports that the embattled Director General (DG) of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has disclosed that he was only convicted of traffic offences twenty-two years ago in the US,
WHY IS GOVERNOR OKOWA STILL RETAINING MR. SAMUEL AZUBIKE IDAH AS DG OF DESTMA?
With recent reports that the embattled Director General (DG) of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has disclosed that he was only convicted of traffic offences twenty-two years ago in the US, and not for frauds as alleged in some quarters, I still do not understand why the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led Government is still retaining the said Mr. Idah as DG of DESTMA. Since he has come out to publicly agree that he was once convicted by the court of Law for traffic offence in the US, then why is he still being retained as DG of an agency responsible for managing traffic in the State? If the said Mr. Idah was merely arrested then in the US but was not convicted by a US court, then it would be said that he has no criminal record. But as far as he was convicted for traffic offence(s), then he has no reason to be in any Government agency.
Even in another related report online, it was noted that, in what would be as way out for the DESTMA DG to be left off the hook, the Secretary to Delta State Government, Chiedu Ebie, has advised him to go and make peace with the Police, Human rights organization and journalists that are investigating him and the agency’s activities to avoid being sacked by Governor Okowa, or be charged to Court by the Police, just as he told the embattled DESTMA DG that his recent activities has brought ridicule to Okowa led government. But with all of that, the fact still remains that the said Mr. Idah is still the DG of DESTMA as at the time of writing this piece.
Mind you, we have, in several occasions, drawn the attention of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the distasteful and uncivil practices of the so-called DESTMA with its Head Office situated within the Vehicle Licensing Office (VIO) Premises along Warri Sapele Road near the NPA in Warri. But it is sad that up till now, the Authorities of DESTMA have been left to continue exploiting the Nigerian public, and at the same time abuse their Offices and statutory roles. To the extent that several private independent bodies and individuals have equally written countless petitions and complaints, particularly against the Director General (DG) of DESTMA, Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah.
Without a doubt, the said DG appointment and continuous stay in that DESTMA office, will further dent the already battered image of the Delta State Government in the eyes of the public. Traffic offences in the US is a serious offence because it is seen as an offence that can cause the loss of lives, especially when drinking and driving. DESTMA is also all about traffic management in Delta State. So, can't Governor Okowa get a decent person to run the agency? Or even search for a credible person with right frame of mind to run the agency the way it ought to be run. Having overexaggerated credentials should not be only the requirement of a person who is to serve in government.
With the established fact that the Delta State Traffic Management Authority, popularly now called/known as “Okowa Police”, which was created primarily to control traffic, protect lives and ultimately make public life much easier and livable for road users and motorists, it should be considered an anomaly that today, the Management Authorities of DESTMA have turned the agency into a market-arsenal used for the extortion, harassment and intimidation of motorists/road users in the cities of Delta State, particularly in the oil city of Warri and environs.
They usually just sit by road side to look for motorists who will fall into their traps. I personally see them on Airport road link road leading to the NNPC Housing complex road Warri, hiding inside tricycles (keke) while waiting for unsuspecting traffic offenders, whom they collect huge sums of money from on a daily basis. There is no discipline in the entire DESTMA as of today due to high level of corruption in the agency under this same DG. Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah. Governor Okowa should stop using sentiments in the appointing of people if he means well for Delta State. There are too many scandals hanging on the neck of this said DG of DESTMA. Are there no other good people again to head the agency?
Zik Gbemre.
September 25, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With recent reports that the embattled Director General (DG) of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has disclosed that he was only convicted of traffic offences twenty-two years ago in the US, and not for frauds as alleged in some quarters, I still do not understand why the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led Government is still retaining the said Mr. Idah as DG of DESTMA. Since he has come out to publicly agree that he was once convicted by the court of Law for traffic offence in the US, then why is he still being retained as DG of an agency responsible for managing traffic in the State? If the said Mr. Idah was merely arrested then in the US but was not convicted by a US court, then it would be said that he has no criminal record. But as far as he was convicted for traffic offence(s), then he has no reason to be in any Government agency.
Even in another related report online, it was noted that, in what would be as way out for the DESTMA DG to be left off the hook, the Secretary to Delta State Government, Chiedu Ebie, has advised him to go and make peace with the Police, Human rights organization and journalists that are investigating him and the agency’s activities to avoid being sacked by Governor Okowa, or be charged to Court by the Police, just as he told the embattled DESTMA DG that his recent activities has brought ridicule to Okowa led government. But with all of that, the fact still remains that the said Mr. Idah is still the DG of DESTMA as at the time of writing this piece.
Mind you, we have, in several occasions, drawn the attention of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the distasteful and uncivil practices of the so-called DESTMA with its Head Office situated within the Vehicle Licensing Office (VIO) Premises along Warri Sapele Road near the NPA in Warri. But it is sad that up till now, the Authorities of DESTMA have been left to continue exploiting the Nigerian public, and at the same time abuse their Offices and statutory roles. To the extent that several private independent bodies and individuals have equally written countless petitions and complaints, particularly against the Director General (DG) of DESTMA, Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah.
Without a doubt, the said DG appointment and continuous stay in that DESTMA office, will further dent the already battered image of the Delta State Government in the eyes of the public. Traffic offences in the US is a serious offence because it is seen as an offence that can cause the loss of lives, especially when drinking and driving. DESTMA is also all about traffic management in Delta State. So, can't Governor Okowa get a decent person to run the agency? Or even search for a credible person with right frame of mind to run the agency the way it ought to be run. Having overexaggerated credentials should not be only the requirement of a person who is to serve in government.
With the established fact that the Delta State Traffic Management Authority, popularly now called/known as “Okowa Police”, which was created primarily to control traffic, protect lives and ultimately make public life much easier and livable for road users and motorists, it should be considered an anomaly that today, the Management Authorities of DESTMA have turned the agency into a market-arsenal used for the extortion, harassment and intimidation of motorists/road users in the cities of Delta State, particularly in the oil city of Warri and environs.
They usually just sit by road side to look for motorists who will fall into their traps. I personally see them on Airport road link road leading to the NNPC Housing complex road Warri, hiding inside tricycles (keke) while waiting for unsuspecting traffic offenders, whom they collect huge sums of money from on a daily basis. There is no discipline in the entire DESTMA as of today due to high level of corruption in the agency under this same DG. Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah. Governor Okowa should stop using sentiments in the appointing of people if he means well for Delta State. There are too many scandals hanging on the neck of this said DG of DESTMA. Are there no other good people again to head the agency?
Zik Gbemre.
September 25, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes