Oyebanji Condoles Flood Victims as  Five Escape Death in Ekiti

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has sympathised with those whose properties were affected by the flood that wreaked  havoc in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday evening.

The governor,  who thanked God that no life was lost in the flood that ravaged Ekiti state capital, assured the people  that his government would  map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water.

THISDAY investigation revealed that property worth several millions of naira were  damaged in areas like Eminrin Estate, Adebayo, Ita Eku, and Ilupeju Avenue, when the  flood  surged into some buildings during the heavy downpour, just as five persons  narrowly  escaped death on Ureje River in Ado Ekiti, as the river overflowed its bank along Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti.

The five persons were said to be coming from Ureje area and were making frantic efforts to navigate the heavily flooded  bridge into the town, when they were overran by fast flowing  water and taken into its valley.

The Ureje river  overflowed its bank due to torrential downpour that lasted for three hours, while commuters entering Ado Ekiti and those traveling out of the metropolis to another town or state, were trapped for several hours, waiting for the water level to subside before crossing.

This caused a serious gridlock that extended from the Ureje bridge to Saint Paul’s Anglican Church at Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, a distance of about two and half  kilometres.

An eye witness told THISDAY in Ado Ekiti,  yesterday  that the victims, who could have been drowned by water were hurriedly saved by some divers, who waited at the bridge to help the elderly people to cross the flooded spot.

“The five victims were  struggling to cross the bridge with high and heavily tidal  water level when suddenly they were overran and being washed away by water. The people who were waiting at the far end of the bridge quickly raised a loud alarm which attracted the  divers, who quickly jumped into the river to save them.”

Around the flooded bridge, several property were damaged , including cars that were parked near the area, while a Block  industry owned by Mr. Rasheed Akanbi and a nearby church were totally submerged by water.

In Eminrin Estate alone, about 10 buildings were affected, while the occupants lost valuables worth millions of naira.

One of the victims, Mrs Julianah Ajulo, said the family lost property worth over N3 million to the flooding, calling on government to render help to bail them out of the horrible situation.

“In fact, we were happy when Governor Biodun Oyebanji  came to dredge Ureje River here in Eminrin. We never knew we could witness this again. This is the third time in   10  years this will happen to us. We appeal to the government to  do something urgent about our situation. We are seriously pained by this incident”.

The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, accompanied by other  top government functionaries yesterday , while visiting the affected areas to assess the level of destruction caused by the incident.

Oyebanji, who regretted the level of havoc wreaked by the flood, assured  the people that  his government would  map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water.

The Governor said: “Our people should discountenance that rumour that five people died. Nothing of such happened. We have it on good authority that those who fell victim were saved by divers. So, our people shouldn’t  panic.

“It was to avoid flooding that this government embarked on aggressive dredging of Ureje and Elemi Rivers early this year. We also channelised many drainages in Ado Ekiti. If not for that proactive actions, the wreckage could have been worse and more destructive.

“We sympathise with those that were affected by this flooding. My government won’t abandon them. We will take quick steps to address all your issues. We will surely come to your aid because the welfare of the people is paramount to Governor Biodun Oyebanji”.

Oyebanji warned Ekiti residents against unwholesome practices like reckless dumping of refuse and sewages inside  canals and erection of buildings on waterways, describing these as actions that were exacerbating flooding in the state.

Also corroborating the Governor’s position, the diver, who rescued the five victims at Ureje Bridge, Chief Kolawole Falajiki, who was one of those that received the entourage, clarified that the victims were saved while being washed away by water, contrary to the rumour being peddled on social media.

“Nobody died , we ensured we saved all those that were caught in the web of flooding. Commuters numbering over 800 were trapped here at Ureje bank. They were witnessed to my story that nobody died”.

Falajiki alongside spokesmen of Ureje and Eminrin estate: Mr Tayo Olawuyi, Rasheed Akanbi and Alhaji Shine Salami, applauded the state government for dredging the river earlier in the year, saying the havoc could have been more disastrous if not for that well conceived action.

“The only way we can overcome this flooding permanently is for the government to blast the rock that is raising the water level inside Ureje River. That was why the water was overflowing the high bridge that connects Ado Ekiti to Afe Babalola University.

“Another way is that they should use concrete to channel the water down slope. These are the permanent solutions to the challenge.”