Damage massive, affected over 100 houses., Gov Oyebanji laments

Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has lamented the massive destruction of property during the Saturday’s torrential downpour in Ado Ekiti capital city, describing the proportion of wreckage as monumental and worrisome to his government.

Worst hit by the tornado were residential buildings, commercial structures, public institutions, while electrical facilities were not spared by the stormy rainfall, as many poles and telecommunication masts were pulled down by the furious wind.

No fewer than 1, 000 people were rendered homeless with over 100 houses affected by the rainstorm.

The victims who had been displaced in their large numbers were calling on the State Governor to come to their aid.

Some of them were of the opinion that they inherited the buildings from their fathers and they were their only means of likelihood and survival.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji after the stormy rainfall, sympathised with the victims and pledged government’s support for those who were enmeshed in the web of destruction of timely interventions to rebuild their damaged structures.

While touring the sections affected on Sunday to evaluate the level of wreckage, Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said he was happy that there is no casualty during the torrential and stormy downpour.

The governor posited that while some structures experienced partial damage, it was a complete sweeping of the rooftops and the entire structures in some places, which he said would automatically subject the owners to emergency financial burden.

Oyebanji applauded the Ado Ekiti traditional institution for demonstrating concerns over the incidence, by making representation to tour the metropolis to appraise the level of destruction.

The governor assured that his government being pro-masses, won’t abandon the victims in subduing the emergency shock occasioned by the disaster that rendered hundreds homeless and destroyed commercial centres.

“You could see that the destruction was massive and there is no way it won’t be a financial burden to those that were affected. Though, we are happy that no life was lost, this is the major thing to us.

“We have always been advocating that our people should do turnaround maintenance on their buildings before the start of rainy season. The government was also encouraging tree planting around residential buildings to serve as wind breakers. These are the best ways to prevent some of these occurrences.

“We really sympathise with those affected. Like we have said earlier, we won’t abandon them. We are with them and the government will surely intervene and give support required to rebuild the damaged structures”, he promised.

At every location visited, Oyebanji assured that the operatives of the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency and National Emergency Management Agency will revisit the flashpoints to  evaluate the damaged structures and enumerate the victims to guide the government on how best to intervene in the matter.

Oyebanji directed the SEMA operatives to do a thorough evaluation and enumeration exercise of those affected in collaboration with NEMA, so that all the victims and estimate of their losses can be captured adequately.

Oyebanji appealed to the federal government to intervene timely in the incidence, regretting that many across the 16 local governments have become homeless, while some had already lost their means of livelihoods.

Speaking on the wreckage, the chairman of Ado North LCDA, Tokunbo Gbadamosi, warned those who have been creating panic on social media to desist, saying the government is on top of the situation.

“Our people shouldn’t panic over this matter. The current government is about the masses. Those affected will be supported to overcome these challenges. The government believes that this is a collective challenge and it will be resolved collectively”.