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Weekend Of Agony On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
For commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a replica of the events of Friday and yesterday is one thing they would never pray for in their lives. If only they had a premonition of the hours of torture that laid in wait for them as they left their various destinations, perhaps a handful of them would have remained put. The express way which houses campgrounds of Churches like the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministry and the Believers' Love World (Christ Embassy) among others has, the unenviable pedigree of turning to a den of traffic jams whenever conventions are held. But even at that, yesterday's situation was a peculiar case as many people were forced to experience the distasteful event of passing the night on the highway.
They spoke with ABIMBOLA OJENIKE, FISAYO SOYOMBO and JOSEPH OKETUNMBI: Excerpts:
CHAPLAIN ANAYO C. IWUYI: The situation is so terrible. It's because of the Oyakhilome night vigil. Many people want to see miracle and they rush wherever one is publicized. The government should order anybody that wants to do crussade here to do it on Saturdays since the hold up can't b this serious on Sunday when they will be leaving. I'm just trusting God to take me home savely. We don't know when we will here.
ANONYMOUS
This is a lawless country. I've been here with my family since 7.00am and the so called Pastor that caused the hold up aledgedly flew out of here in an helicopter. Which kind of God does he worship? Somebody caused a problem, he flew and left the rest of us in the problem. People have missed serious appointments and functions while here.
SUNDAY NKAMA
I'm going for Assembly of God Church retreat. I've been here since 7.00am-some seven hours ago. The situation is so bad. We don't know why this is happening in a country that has a government. There are no policemen here to help. The police is not doing its work. They should make sure people don't block roads when they are having programme and they should disperse them on time. Pastor Chris too should go and have a car park, people can't continue parking on a Federal highway.
AMECHI NWAFOR
This is horrible! I've been on this spot for more than five hours. Oyakhilome is the one causing everything. The government should relocate all these Camps to another place especially Oyakhilome. He should go to a place that will accommodate him and his people.
ANONYMOUS
The irresponsibility of this miracle pastors is becoming unbearable. How can someone bring people here to block a major highway. I've missed the appointment I'm travelling for.
ADE
This standstill is chaotic. I've been here for four hours. When there are special programmes, the government should make special traffic arrangement. It happens this way always. A responsible government should take the problem serious
JENNIFER ANUKWU
This's very bad. Life here has been so boring. It's because of the crusade. Must all the churches be along this road? They should move them all inside.
MURTALA GANIYU
I think there is much to be done about the traffic control of this country. It's not the best for any country at this stage of development. The government should be alive to its responsibility. There should be more outlets to other places like Sagamu and the rest. This is a festive period and should expect everybody would be out.
DR. OLUSANYA O.
The government should not have allowed this to happen. The government perhaps never expected that all these churches will be here when the road was constructed. If more access roads will not be constructed, the government should relocate all of them.
JOSHUA NFEANYI
I'm tied and I don't know when this will end. I've missed an appointment. I can't reach my destination. I just want to go back home if I have the chance.
JULIUS OZALO Unit Co-ordinator, FRSC
The cause of the hold-up is impatience and indiscipline on the part of the motorists. Those going out of Lagos left their lane to follow the other lane. They are just impatient. That is why the hold-up has lasted this long. The road network is equally not okay, the road is narrow. The government should do something about it. We can only thank God that there has been no casualty.
RAPHAEL
Only one man - Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, caused this traffic jam. I left Delta State yesterday (Friday) and I got here around 4 pm. I have been here since then. I slept here. Look at me, look at my appearance, am I not looking stupid? It's all due to inadequate planning. The Believers Love World, Pastored by Chris Oyakhilome had a programme here yesterday, and they did not plan well for it. That is why we are here today. The traffic control system is also poor. As at the time those that came for the programme were leaving this morning, there was nobody to control the traffic. Also, the road should be expanded, this road is too small. These apart, the Christ Embassy should make provisions for a parking space. If they can have a campground, they can also have a parking space.
TEMITOPE OTUNBA
The hold-up is just too much; I am not okay with it at all. I am going to Ife and I have been here for over three hours. People said it is the Christ Embassy people that had a programme here. This road should be extended if future occurrences are to be forestalled.
WALE ALARAPE
So far, what I have witnessed is very terrible. The main problem is the road. I am coming from Ibadan and I have been here for hours. The road should have been constructed in such a away that the people coming from Ibadan to Lagos would go under the bridge and connect to Lagos. If they go under the bridge and turn, then there would be no way they can turn to this lane and obstruct us and situations like these would definitely be averted. Indiscipline is also a problem. There are so many impatient drivers around. To worsen the situation, the traffic controllers are like round pegs in square holes. Just take a good look at me, I have been here since 9.3o am and as you can see, I have not even gone past redeem campground. I don't blame the church. Why should I blame them? Afterall, there is Freedom of religion. The road demarcation is the ultimate solution, not the church.
TONY
I have been here for two to three hours. The crusade that was held here is definitely the problem. I do not think there were proper logistics in place. If a programme ended at 6am today and we are still here in the jam, then there wasn't proper planning. Pastor Adeboye has organized programmes like this before and situations like this have not arisen. There have been traffic jams as a result of his programmes no doubt, but not as serious as this. They should have provided measures of traffic control. If you are organizing a programme and you know you are going to pull crowd, then you should provide parking spaces for them.
OKE LAWSON
I have been here for about four and a half hours and I am going to Abangwa in Abia State. The religious problem is the cause of all these. There should be a crowd control unit to manage this road. The government should warn the churches along this road seriously. They should be warned.
WALE SULE
I have been here for four hours just because I am travelling fron Lagos to Ibadan. Isn't four hours enough to take me to and from Ibadan? I learnt the religious programmes held by MFM and Christ Embassy is the genesis of all this. The government must find a solution, this should not continue.
AGBAJE TAIWO
The lawmakers should do something fast to these churches. This should not continue. It's so unbearable. How can I spend four hours on the road just because I am going to Ibadan from Lagos. Four hours gone, the road is still not cleared, so I don't know how many hours I still have to spend here. Traffic control would also help, patience from drivers too.
COLLINS MADUKWE
That hold-up was serious. I was there for hours. I was forced to take a bike to Berger for N300 because of the appointment I have to go and keep now. The money was tough to part with, but I had trekked for hours and no car was coming out. I will not blame anybody except the traffic control men. They need to be re-orientated as to how to handle cases as these.
ANONYMOUS
Don't listen to people who say bad things about men of God. I was also at the programme and so many people brought their problems to the place.
JAMES KALU- a member of Christ Embassy Church
The stamped started as at 4am, when the programme (Good Friday Miracle) ended. We have been controlling the traffic since. It is impatience of drivers that causes hold-up in most cases. I think it is like this because it is first time of its kind in this camp. I believe it would not be like this next time.
SAMUEL OGUNIYI, a trapped driver
I have been in this traffic since 5am. The problem is that the church does not have proper arrangement. This type of programme should have made them to request for the service of government officials. They should have invited Mobile Police to co-ordinate and control the traffic.
GBOYEBO ONATUNDE
I have spent more than five to six hours on the road where I would have otherwise spent less than one hour. I encountered the traffic as far back as Mowe area, close to Redemption Camp. There should be special arrangement for a special service like this. The government should help us in this type of situation. You can't blame one for been impatient. One who has been in hold-up for hours.
ADELAKUN OLOYEDE
Can you imagine, I have been on the road since 7am from Ibadan. This is 1:08pm. Government should please find solution to it. It is religious matter, one has to be very careful of the statement he makes. This situation will not allow me to follow this way when going back to Ibadan. It then means I have to follow that longer way- Shagamu express way to avoid this same situation.
MICHEL AJIBOLA
If one is having a pregnant woman with him to take to hospital, she must have died before getting to the hospital. I have been under this hectic hold up since 7 0'clock. They said it's Christ Embassy's programme that has been holding us to ransom like this.
CHARLES EGBOTU
The church should provide car park for their members. They should have made arrangement with law enforcement agents. We are not comfortable with this situation. I think the message of Christ is all about comfort. One should not make life uncomfortable for others.
SHAKUNLE JULIUS- a member of Deeper Life Church
It is not true that all the churches along Lagos/Ibadan express way are the cause of the traffic jam. Deeper Life has been organising a traffic jam and stress free Easter programme since inception. The Church will end its programme on Monday. People are still on camp..
DAYO ADEDURO-an invitee to the programme
I will never follow anybody to any programme again. Even if my wife or children do so I will turn down the offer. I have been trekking for more than three hours yet I have not reached my house. I'm taking a rest at this Filling station along the express road. I embarked on trekking because I did not know when the traffic would be free.
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