EKO HOT BLOG reports that over 105 buildings were destroyed in Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State due to a rainstorm that lasted over two hours on Friday evening. The storm also destroyed some electricity facilities in the town, leading to a total blackout.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji sympathised with the residents of the affected community on Saturday. The Governor’s Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, represented him during the on-the-spot assessment of the level of havoc wreaked on the town.
Her Royal Highness Ogunbiyi Tinuade Adebayo, the Regent of the town, the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 2, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, and the Chairman, Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Hon Michael Ogungbemi, conducted her around the affected areas.
While speaking to the victims, Chief (Mrs) Afuye described the incident as highly devastating and expressed delight that no life was lost during the stormy rainfall.
She sympathised with the victims and urged them to remain calm, noting that natural disasters of this nature are difficult to control. However, with personal precautions and right efforts, their effects can be minimized.
The Governor’s administration is ready to support interested individuals to go into tree planting to safeguard the environment and minimise havoc being wreaked on buildings by rainstorms.
Chief (Mrs) Afuye observed that landlords in the community were not planting trees, which is very essential in serving as wind breakers against storms. She called on them to inculcate the habit of tree planting.
The Governor also enlivened the spirits of the affected landlords and assured them that the State government in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) recently gave palliatives to scores of flood victims to put a soothing balm on their pains. The State Government will dispatch the palliatives to the victims soon.
The lawmaker representing the constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, described the present government as merciful and masses-oriented. He assured the victims that help will be offered for them to recover their losses.
The General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Jide Borode, said the rainstorm’s effect could have been minimised if landlords had keyed into the tree planting initiative of the state government.
A statement from the Special Assistant Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje said:
“On behalf of his Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, I sympathise with you on the destruction caused by rainstorm to many residential buildings and electricity poles in this town, which we believe must have affected the wellbeing of the victims.
“Information at our disposal and on-the-spot assessment revealed that roofs of scores of residential buildings and electricity facilities were destroyed during the stormy rainfall, thereby rendering many homeless and helpless.
“We sympathise with the victims at this trying times and plead for calmness, in the sense that natural disaster of this nature is one occurrence that is difficult to control. But with personal precautions and right efforts, its effects can be minimised.
“That was why the Governor Oyebanji’s administration is ready to support interested individuals to go into tree planting and the programmes will soon be rolled out to safeguard our environment and minimise havocs being wreaked on our buildings by rainstorm.
“Tree planting is very essential. I observed that landlords here are not planting trees, I am not seeing them standing beside our houses. Let us inculcate the habit of tree planting to serve as wind breakers against storm.
The governor added:
“I believe that such laudable gestures shall be extended to you in due course. The fact that we are here shows that we care about you. If we don’t like you, we won’t have come. We care about you, we love and we will continue to support you.
“Very soon, the government will despatch the palliatives to the victims. Be peaceful and take steps to install a substantive monarch to fully take charge for this town to witness radical development. You can’t be without an Oba. That is the best way for you to ensure steady development”.
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