A commercial driver, Mr. Isaac
Popoola, who was allegedly beaten to death on Monday by two officials of the
Lagos State Transportation Management Authority, had before his brutal killing,
started preparing for the Yuletide celebration.
The deceased’s son, Ibukunoluwa, told
our correspondent, at the family residence in Akowonjo, Egbeda area of the
state on Tuesday that his father had fixed January 2, 2013 for the celebration.
Ibukunoluwa, a graduate of Accounting
from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, said the family had a long
tradition of celebrating the Yuletide on January 1 every year.
He said, “For a long time, we don’t
celebrate Christmas, we usually celebrate the Yuletide on January 1. But the
celebration was changed to January 2 because he said he wanted to work on
January 1.
“The preparation for the celebration
had started since last month. Just on Saturday, he still called his tailor to
ask if he had made his clothes, which he had given to him last month.
“The goat you are seeing there
(pointing to a goat tethered to a tree within the compound), was meant for the
celebration. He had bought the goat since last month.
“Like he used to do every year,
invitations had been sent to many of our relatives and family friends within
Lagos and in our home town in Modakeke. Our house is usually alive during such
celebration because many of our relatives were always around.”
Ibukunola said he was not opportuned
to see his father on the day of his death “because he usually woke up not later
than 4.30am and would not wake anybody up before he drove out of the compound.”
When our correspondent visited the
residence of the deceased at 16, Ojo Ogundana Crescent, Off Jimoh Akinremi
Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo in the Egbeda area of Lagos, the deceased’s
widow, Modupe, was said to be asleep.
Ibukunoluwa, who said they moved into
his father’s house in 1991, expressed fear that his father’s death was going to
constitute a setback to his siblings’ education.
Ibukunoluwa said, “As the first child
of the family, I’m the only lucky one to have finished my higher education of
learning.
He said, “My dad was the breadwinner
of the family. His death is going to affect the education of my siblings
negatively. Government must do something to salvage our future.”
Apart from compensation that would
cater for his siblings’ education, Ibukunoluwa also sought the prosecution of
those who allegedly killed his father.
He said, “The LASTMA officials found
to have been connected with my dad’s death must be prosecuted. Justice must be
done.
“Up till now, the family does not
know the identity and whereabouts of one of the LASTMA officials arrested in
connection with my dad’s death.
“Even the IPO (the Investigating
Police Officer) was unable to tell us his whereabouts yesterday (Monday).”
Popoola, 54, died after Adesanya
Olatunde and Oludele Ogunrinde, both officials of LASTMA, repeatedly hit his
head against the steering and the door frame of his bus in their attempt to
forcibly take over the vehicle.
The incident happened around Brown
Bus Stop in the Oshodi area of Lagos at about 6:30am on Monday
President Goodluck Jonathan came
under criticism from his Facebook friends on Tuesday after he posted his
Christmas message on the social networking site.
The President in the message said he
“personally” instructed government officials to make conditions favourable for
Nigerians to celebrate the Yuletide.
The airports, he said, for instance,
had been given a “facelift”, adding that the terminals were rehabilitated and
the runways upgraded ahead of the festive season.
He wrote, “I want to seize this
opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and a happy New
Year in advance. I feel the pains of Nigerians and that is why this Yuletide I
have personally instructed that our roads be worked on to enable you and your
loved ones to travel safely for the holidays.
“Not done, we ensured that for the
first time in decades, the cross country services (Lagos to Kano with stops in
cities along the route) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation were revived
just prior to the holidays to provide Nigerian masses with an inexpensive
alternative to road and air transportation.
“This administration also took steps
to increase power generation by remaining true to the Timelines of the Roadmap
to Power Sector Reform, which has seen history made on Friday, December 21,
when Nigeria’s power generation hit an all-time high of just over 4,500 MW.”
But no sooner had Jonathan posted the
message on his wall than it was greeted with a barrage of criticisms from his
friends.
While a few praised and advised the
President on how to tackle the problems bedevilling the country, many others
faulted his submissions.
One of his friends, Kaycee Aloy-Obi
wrote, “Mr. President hold your greetings. You and your family are having great
celebration. A litre of petrol is sold at N110-N120, against N97 which is the
official price. There is unprecedented traffic jam on Ore-Benin road due to bad
roads.
“People cannot go around to visit
love ones because of insecurity. Bury your head in shame with your 4,500 MW
when South Africa is generating 50,000 MW. It is paradoxical that many
Nigerians are having dry Christmas in midst of plenty.”
Yusuf Suleiman, asked the president
to match his words with actions, adding that his “advisers are not telling you
the true picture of what is happening.”
He said, “In Nigeria today, under
your watch, the country recorded the highest looting of our treasury, and
you didn’t do anything. We also have seen how citizens were massacred, in fact,
the highest since civil war ended (and) your government is not doing enough to
stop that.”
Also, Bethel Vincent, wrote, “Haba!
Mr. President, you know say
lie no good at all. Why post something we have not witnessed, yet you refer
to us as friends and fellow Nigerians. As I am talking to you, my flat is
running on generator; Benin-Auchi road is filled with potholes and you are
talking about airport, how (many) Nigerians can afford air transport?”
A friend, Ajoba David, wrote, “Sir,
congratulations! Merry Christmas and a happy new year. What do we expect as a
New Year gift come Tuesday, January 1st? Well, I hope it is not going to be
another fuel subsidy razzmatazz like we experienced last year.
“Nevertheless, Nigerians have yet to
recuperate from the fever that was injected into their veins last January
as a result of the purportedly and verbally(sic) removal of the fuel subsidy
which Nigerians have yet to see any sign of seriousness in bringing (those)
culpable to book.”