About twenty-eight years ago, I met the General Overseer of Dunamis Christian Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, when he came to the Federal Capital Territory, Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps to process a driver’s license. That meeting opened a window for a relationship that became beneficial to me as Sector Commander later in the FCT.
When I later became Sector Commander in the FCT, commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada, were becoming a nuisance to road users. To improve general road safety consciousness, I embarked on child safety campaigns as well as campaigns to sanitize commercial motorcycle operators whose madness in the city provoked outrage among victims of this mode of transportation, which, in the words of a good friend, took the country 40years backward.
It was in the course of my numerous campaigns that something I found encouraging happened. Dr Enenche invited me to give a talk at a special programme targeted at okada riders at a time when Nigerians, including corporate organizations, were lip-servicing the problem, condemning these groups without taking any drastic action in line with their corporate social responsibilities.
As part of that programme,500 crash helmets were distributed freely to these operators who were also empowered spiritually. Although I gave a brief safety talk as Sector Commander, Fct Command, what caught my attention at the programme was a quotation by Dr Enenche from the Holy Bible which, going forward, formed the authority and resource for my Church safety campaigns.
That quotation was taken from Ecclesiastes 7:16-17which says,’’ Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time? I wish my Muslim teacher were reachable to guide me on what the Holy Koran says about foolishness.
I left Dunamis reflecting on the number of lives lost daily due to foolishness or over wisdom, according to the quotation. These lives left planet Earth before God’s destined time. They include loved ones, breadwinners, staff of corporate organizations, friends, colleagues, members of various religious groups, Christians and Muslims, as well as innocent children.
It is, however, gladdening that the apathy of Corporate organisations has changed today with strategic intervention by some corporate organisations. The helmsman of the Corps, Shehu Mohammed, acknowledged this during the 37th anniversary and expressed gratitude for the current level of private sector and government investment in the Corps.
During the celebration, the Corps Marshal singled out the Ford Foundation for its investment in Road Safety Post-crash emergency care, donating $400,000 for training rescue officers. He also acknowledged the World Bank’s support through the provision of $10 million to enhance the FRSC fleet and Road Safety post-crash care centre, the Lions Club for pioneering the construction of emergency roadside clinics, and Matrix Petroleum for building a roadside clinic for the Corps.
Aside from the private sector, government contributions were equally highlighted. The following were therefore singled out for praise: former Governor of Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa for supporting the establishment of Marshal Inspectorate Training School at Owa-Alero, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, former Enugu State governor for supporting the establishment of FRSC Academy, Udi, as well a Senator Solomon Bako Lalong, former governor of Plateau State for his support in establishing the FRSC Road Marshal Assistants Training School at Shendam, Plateau State.
I doff my hat for these organizations and the State government. However, as we reflect on the road the Corps has travelled, greater investment is still needed to drive road safety, which is highly capital-based, to improve the Commission’s service delivery, and promote safer roads and fuller lives to bridge the gaps acknowledged by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed.
What exactly is foolishness? In the Bible, foolishness is more than a lack of intelligence; it is a moral and spiritual failing that involves a rejection of God’s wisdom and guidance. It is characterized by a disregard for God’s ways and preference for one’s flawed understanding or desires. It also includes denying God’s existence or saying ‘no’ to God.
According to Collins Dictionary, foolishness means, unwise, silly, resulting from folly or stupidity, ridiculous. However, in the context of my focus foolishness or over-wiseness refers to any action or actions capable of exposing oneself or others to dangers or increasing the risk factor in the event of a crash.
Foolishness is when an adult indulges in driving under the influence of excessive alcohol even when he knows that alcohol impairs, or when the same adult indulges in driving and phoning, having been told that such a driver is worse than one who has taken alcohol above the limit, according to a United Kingdom research finding.
It also includes when a father, travelling with his whole family, chooses not to strap his loved child for protection and refuses to use the seat belt which we have been told reduces the severity of injuries in the event of a crash. Foolishness is when a driver, despite the approved speed limit, chooses to drive above the speed limit of 100km/h for private cars on the same road that we often complain that despite government effort, more infrastructural improvement needs to be done.
It refers to when a driver, even in built-up areas, disregards the safety of pedestrians, including children who are particularly at risk of road traffic injury, and drives above 30km/h. The speed limit approved by the United Nations is designed to improve safety in built-up areas. Sadly, more people have died from road traffic deaths than from any known disease, yet we indulge in this suicidal driving behavior. If you doubt me, please check the facts by the World Health Organisation.
As we navigate another weekend of merriment, I counsel you, ‘’not to go overboard being wise. Believe me, you won’t get anything out of it. But don’t press your luck by being bad, either. And don’t be reckless. Why die needlessly’’, according to the Message translation of the Holy Bible.
As you indulge in those risky driving behaviours, remember that approximately 80 percent of the potentially most severe crashes could be attributed to one of nine critical risks, among which are: work at height, working with electricity, confined spaces, and working with mobile plants. Notwithstanding these, driving is still confirmed as the number one Global risk with the potential to cause death or serious injury. So beware!!!
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