Edo lawmaker’s wife assaults traffic official

THERE is presently unease in Benin following a violent assault of an official of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) over an alleged traffic violation by the wife of the Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Roland Asoro.

Mrs. Asoro had reportedly assaulted an official of the traffic agency whose name was simply given as Osazuwa.

Going by an eye witness account, the wife of the lawmaker was said to have pounced on the traffic officer after he flagged her down for contravening traffic rules and regulations in the Edo State capital last Tuesday.

The EDSMA official who was in the line of duty at the time of the assault was said to have parked Mrs. Asoro’s car and was able to book and impound the vehicle when the woman verbally assaulted him, resulting in a heated argument that eventually degenerated into a free for all.

The scene caught the attention of other traffic officials who rushed in to help their embattled colleague and ensure the erring woman, the wife of Mr. Roland Asoro of the ruling All Progressives Congress (Orhionwmon11) was booked for the offence and her vehicle impounded.

It was gathered that the vehicle, a Mercedes Benz Sports Unity Vehicle marked Edo State Legislature ED 03 caused serious traffic gridlock on Sallah Day on the busy Sapele Road after the lawmaker’s wife resisted the move by the EDSTMA officials to tow the vehicle.

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Sources at the scene disclosed that the woman made some phone calls and allegedly got some unidentified thugs who came to her rescue and subdued the EDSTMA officials while Osazuwa was allegedly driven way to an unknown destination where he was seriously assaulted and had his uniform torn.

Persistent attempts to reach out to either Asoro or the wife proved futile as none of them bothered to answer calls put across to their mobile phones.

Only recently, the state government had advised motorists to adhere to directive against indiscriminate parking of vehicles or risk being sanctioned in a new drive to sanitise major roads and public spaces.

The Secretary to the Edo State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie who read out the riot said the warning was aimed at restoring sanity on the main roads and protect the lives of residents, who are exposed to danger when some motorists flout government directives and constitute nuisance on major roads and highways with indiscriminate parking.

The scribe warned: “Those who continue to flout the rule will face corresponding sanctions. This move is to restore sanity to our major roads and also protect the lives of our people who are endangered by the unruly conduct of some motorists, who park, drop and pick passengers indiscriminately.”

Angered by the development, members of Edo State Civil Society Organisations (EDSCO’s), challenged the EDSTMA boss to show proof of payment of fine by the lawmaker or his wife, else, the organisation will not hesitate to approach the court to seek redress if the alleged perpetrators are not punished and encourage his constituents to set machinery in motion for his recall.