…Gov Akeredolu Sympathizes With Families Over Students’ Death
By John Ugo
The Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has expressed deep worry over the accident that claimed the lives of two people.
Our correspondent gathered that those that died in the unfortunate accident were students Ondo State University, Akungba-Akoko.
The painful death made the students to embark on a peaceful protest on Friday.
even as they repeated their call on the Governor to intervene in the recurrent death of students in the area.
The students protest made the school authority to cancel some of the examination for courses that were fixed for Friday.
The students lamented that an earlier accident that occurred on January 23, in front of the accident resulted in the death of many students.
The students stressed that they have made repeated calls to the government for the dualization of the road and the prevention of heavy duty trucks on the road to no avail.
The students said that it was rather unfortunate that three accidents have occurred in the area within the week.
However, Governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,Mr. Richard Olatunde, that the incident was not expected given the steps that had been taken to forestall such occurrence as a response to the incessant accidents that have claimed indigenes and students lives in the past.
Governor Akeredolu said that he had ordered that a barricade be mounted at the dangerous portion of the road to prevent heavy duty trucks from plying that route.
The Governor, expressed disappointment over the people’s penchant for money over lives which made them to violate the directive on the barricade.
He said, “It is disheartening that some people have turned the barricade mounted by government to prevent these heavy trucks from plying the road, into a money-making venture.”
According to him, “If people truly value lives, and understand that whatever money you make at the expense of people’s lives is blood money. This particular incident was highly avoidable.”
“On several occasions, I have visited Akungba Akoko on the heels of incessant accidents. As part of our temporary solution to the situation, a barricade was mounted. It was expected that no heavy duty vehicle would ply that road again. However, we have received reports that some residents of the town open this barricade for heavy duty trucks to pass for a token.” the Governor was quoted to have said .
The Governor, therefore, warned all community leaders, youth leaders or representatives, and other residents of the town to immediately desist from the unwholesome act of flaunting the directive by opening this barricade for articulated trucks.
Akeredolu said government would henceforth, deploy armed security personnel to man the barricades and deal decisively with anyone caught opening it for articulated trucks.
He assured that construction of the bad portions of the road would commence in no distance time as the design for the road is ready, adding that the road, being a Federal road, should not prevent his determination from saving lives.
Governor Akeredolu expressed concern over the needless death of the residents, especially students whose dreams and aspirations have been cut short in their prime.