Ogun State Government has accused Nollywood Actor, Kunle Afod of playing politics with a recent motor accident which occurred on Friday, November 6, 2026 at Sapade along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The state government in a statement on Saturday dismissed claims by Afod that there was no emergency response for about 20 minutes.
According to the government, a passerby reported the accident at the FRSC point in Ogere, where a state ambulance was stationed, at 12:18 p.m., while the ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the scene at 12:28 p.m.
The government explained that the emergency responders had to navigate the road and turn to the opposite carriageway to reach the accident scene at Saapade.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government said the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded promptly and helped save lives.
Government insisted that an
ambulance and FRSC operatives arrived at Saapade accident scene within 10 minutes after report.
It disclosed that six ambulance points were located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, adding that its emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the axis concerning the incident.
The government further stated that the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also joined the emergency response operation.
It explained that the victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those who sustained more serious injuries were conveyed by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
The government commiserated with the families of those affected by the accident, expressing sympathy over the unfortunate incident and wishing the injured victims a speedy recovery.
It, however, accused Afod of politicising the incident and attempting to portray the Abiodun administration negatively through his video of the accident scene.
The government alleged that Afod was a known supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, citing videos of the actor campaigning for the opposition politician.
It said while Afod was entitled to support any political candidate of his choice, he should not allow partisan considerations to influence his comments on an incident involving injured victims and their families.
The statement noted that Afod had produced a campaign video for Adebutu only days before the accident, adding that his latest video was an attempt to generate negative publicity for the Abiodun administration.
“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to purvey falsehood out of spite, making utter mockery of the respected industry he represents.
“Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded swiftly to the accident in question,” the statement said.
Akinmade maintained that playing politics with victims of road accidents was condemnable, adding that the Abiodun administration would not be distracted by what he described as politically motivated attempts to discredit its emergency response system.
The government also urged motorists to exercise caution and strictly observe traffic rules and road safety regulations while using the highways.
It specifically advised drivers to avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other practices that endanger the lives of road users.
Motorists were also urged to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with relevant guidelines issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The government maintained that road safety was a shared responsibility and called on all road users to prioritise the protection of human lives.
Akinmade reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives on the state’s highways and urged residents to report emergencies through the dedicated state emergency line, 08112000033.
The statement also clarified that the state was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had yet to make the service functional in the state despite efforts to activate it.
Meanwhile, Ogun Crime Watch has called on the Nigeria Police Force to invite Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod, for questioning over what it described as the deliberate circulation of misleading information and misrepresentation of events surrounding Friday’s road accident at Saapade on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The group said the timing of the actor’s video, in which he reportedly questioned the emergency response to the accident, raised serious concerns about his intentions and suggested an attempt to mislead the public about the intervention of the Ogun State Government’s emergency response team.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olumide Martin, the group disclosed that the state emergency response team arrived at the accident scene at 12:28 p.m., while Afod reportedly published his video at 12:29 p.m., barely one minute after the team’s arrival.
Ogun Crime Watch said the timeline raised questions about the actor’s claims and the circumstances surrounding the production and publication of the video, particularly when emergency responders were already at the scene attending to the victims.
It alleged that the video appeared calculated to create a negative impression about the government’s response, undermine public confidence in the emergency management system and advance a political narrative favourable to opposition interests.
The group further alleged that the actor’s intervention bore the imprint of partisan political communication, adding that public safety and the welfare of accident victims should never be exploited for political advantage or personal gain.
It therefore urged the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the video, establish the facts and determine whether any laws were breached in the process of circulating potentially misleading information.
The group emphasised that its position was not an attempt to prevent freedom of expression or legitimate criticism of government but a demand for responsibility, accuracy and accountability, especially when public statements concern emergencies involving human lives.
The accident involved a Mazda bus conveying 18 passengers, which reportedly suffered a tyre burst before crashing into a concrete barrier around the Saapade axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Thirteen passengers sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospitals for medical attention.
Ogun Crime Watch commiserated with the victims and their families, wishing those receiving medical attention a speedy recovery.
It also urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid dangerous driving, maintain their vehicles properly and comply with Federal Road Safety Corps regulations to reduce the incidence of preventable road accidents.
The group called on public figures and social media influencers to exercise restraint and verify information before publishing reports, noting that irresponsible commentary during emergencies could create unnecessary panic, mislead the public and diminish confidence in the work of emergency responders.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
