Oyebanji pledges life-saving mechanisms to combat flood as 5 persons escape death in Ekiti

Adebayo Adenrele





Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has assured the people of the state that his government would map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water, following the havoc caused by flood on some sections of Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on tuesday.

Areas ravaged by water after over five hours of torrential downpour include: Ureje Bridge along Polytechnic road, Eminrin Estate, Ilupeju avenue, Elemi, Ita Eku, Basiri, among others.

Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, and accompanied by other top government functionaries, stated this on wednesday, 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 that his government would map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water.

Reiterating that no life was lost in all the flood ravaged areas visited, Oyebanji 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: 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 downslope. These are the permanent solutions to the challenge”.

NEWSTODAYNG recalled that 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 drowned into its valley.

An eyewitness who craved anoymity told Journalists in Ado Ekiti, on wednesday, 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 Hausa divers , who quickly jumped into the river to save them”.

Meanwhile, 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.

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, 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”.