- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday expressed sympathy for victims of Wednesday’s auto crash involving a Government Mass-Transit Bus and a truck in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
One of the drivers attached to a Government’s Bus conveying civil servants, operating between Adebayo and the Secretariat, had lost his life in the accident while four others that sustained diverse degrees of injuries are currently receiving treatments at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti and Oba Adejugbe Specialist Hospital in the State capital.
Speaking during a visit to EKSUTH to check on the injured that were rushed to hospital for treatment, Governor Oyebanji expressed abhorrence for reckless driving, describing it as a major causes of road accidents and attendant avoidable deaths.
The Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, cautioned drivers against reckless driving to avert recurrent of such sordid scenario, warning that the State Government would not tolerate any form of recklessness on the road that may constitute danger to other road users.
He directed the Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Prof Kayode Olabanji, to ensure provision of the best health care services to help the victims recuperate within the shortest possible time.
“I want to thank the medical personnel for their quick intervention. You know the welfare and safety of Ekiti people are vital and paramount in the mind of Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Please, don’t look at the financial aspect, take good care of them and immediately the Governor is around, he will surely do something.
“We are not happy that we lost a life during this accident and some people who were going about their normal duties were also affected and sustained injuries. This was one incident that really pained us as a government.
“The safety of our people is paramount to us and under this context, we appeal to road users, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles and trucks to shun reckless driving that can cause unwarranted loss of lives”, the governor warned.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, who was part of the Governor’s entourage, described the visit as a demonstration of Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to the welfare and safety of residents of the State.
Reiterating the need for motorists to exhibit caution and civility while driving on the roads, Olatunbosun, stressed that a little bit of patience and carefulness could have averted the accident.
“The government of Ekiti State really sympathized with the victims. We are really pained that this actually happened, but we are doing everything to manage the situation. The lives of Ekiti populace are precious to this government.
“Government is really concerned and will stay on top of the matter. However, with the quality of treatments the victims are getting, they will soon be discharged”.
The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof Kayode Olabanji, said his men swung into action immediately the injured were brought into the facility and this he said helped in reducing the number of deaths that could have been recorded during the accident.
Prof Olabanji promised that adequate attentions are being offered any patient brought into the hospital and that of the victims won’t be an exception, even without looking at the financial implications of such treatments.
“Here in EKSUTH, which is a government hospital, what we value is safety and we will continue to do that”, the CMD assured.
