Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has condoled with the residents of Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of the state where a rainstorm destroyed over 105 buildings in the community.
The Friday evening torrential downpour, which lasted for over two hours, also destroyed some electricity facilities across the town, thereby subjecting the residents to a total blackout.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the level of havoc wreaked on the town, Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, described the occurrence as highly devastating.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Deputy Governor was conducted around the affected areas by the Regent of the town, Her Royal Highness Ogunbiyi Tinuade Adebayo, the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 2, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye and the Chairman, Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Hon Michael Ogungbemi.
A statement by the Special Assistant Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje, on Saturday, quoted the Governor as expressing delight that no life was lost during the stormy rainfall.
She 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 sympathize with the victims at these 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 the right efforts, its effects can be minimized.
“That was why 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 minimize havoc being wreaked on our buildings by rainstorms.
“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 windbreakers against storms.
“Let me also assure you that the state government won’t abandon you and allow you to regret in these current devastating condition. We shall give all the necessary support to mitigate whatever effect this situation must have caused to your lives”.
