Election boat mishap: Corps member buried amidst tears

By Evelyn Omotoye
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A member of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), lbrahim Olalekan who died on Saturday in a boat mishap after the House of Assembly election  in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, was on Monday buried in Akure in accordance with the Islamic rites.

Olalekan, an ad- hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and his colleagues were reported to be returning from Agadagba-Obon after completing their duty before the ugly incident occurred.

Seven others,  who survived the boat mishap but sustained injuries, were taken to a community health centre in Ese-Odo.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, had condoled with the family of the deceased on Sunday morning and ordered that other victims of the boat accident be transferred to the Gani Fawehinmi Health Diagnostic Centre in Ondo town for adequate treatment.

During the burial rites, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, commended the patriotism of the late corps member, describing his death as a great tragedy.

“I must confess that this incident is painful to us in the State. Losing him while serving his fatherland is not the wish of his parents, NYSC or state government. However, death is an inevitable price everyone will pay sooner or later.

“This is why we must all do our best in every situation we find ourselves because death can strike at anytime. It is our prayer that God grants the family fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, he said.

The State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Grace Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of the  Director General of the Corps, Maj.- Gen. Suleiman  Kazaure, also condoled with the family of the late NYSC member.

“We pray that Almighty Allah will grant repose of his soul and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” she prayed.

Spokesperson of the deceased family, Alhaji Ismail Olatundun thanked the state government for giving their late son a befitting burial.

The Hope learnt that the deceased, a graduate of Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, hailed from Ogun State and was until his death, serving at Herald of Hope Group of Schools in Ojuala in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of  Ondo State.