By Fatima Muraina

An octogenarian’s day of joy almost turned to sadness when he narrowly escaped death on his birthday.
The man, believed to be in his mid 70s, cheated death when his car hit a speeding car while negotiating a bend at the Ijapo Estate axis of the Reuben Fasoranti dual carriageway in Akure.
The man, who was said to be marking his birthday on the fateful day, was said to be a Manager with a popular hotel in the Ijapo Estate extension area.
An eye witness, Mr Falodun Funminiyi told our correspondent that ‘baba’, as he referred to the elderly man, was negotiating a turn with his Toyota Corolla car with registration number APP218DA in front of the Federal College of Agriculture bus stop when he lost control and ran into an oncoming car on the other side of the dual carriageway.
The driver of the other vehicle identified as Mr Adeniran Omolade said he had to apply brake to stop the force of the speed of the car.
Sympathizers at the scene were all praising God for the elderly man, saying that day was his birthday as it was claimed that he clocked 80 years that faithful day.