The Ekiti Government has denied reports that five persons drowned in flooding in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, denied the reports during an assessment of the affected areas in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor regretted the level of havoc wreaked by the flood and assured that his government would map out life-saving mechanisms to mitigate destruction of property in areas submerged by water.
“Our people should discountenance that rumour that five people died. Nothing of such happened.”
“We have it on good authority that those who fell victim were saved by divers. So, our people shouldn’t panic.
“It was to avoid flooding that this government embarked on aggressive dredging of Ureje and Elemi Rivers early this year.
“We also cleared many drains in Ado-Ekiti. If not for those proactive actions, the wreckage could have been worse and more destructive.
“We sympathise with those that were affected by this flooding. My government won’t abandon them.
“We will take quick steps to address all your issues. We will surely come to your aid because the welfare of the people is paramount,” he said.
Oyebanji warned Ekiti residents against unwholesome practices like arbitrary dumping of refuse inside drains and canals and erection of buildings on waterways, describing these as actions that were exacerbating flooding in the state.
Also corroborating the governor’s statement, the diver, who rescued the five victims at Ureje Bridge, Chief Kolawole Falajiki, clarified that the victims were saved while being washed away by water, contrary to reports on social media.
Flajiki, who was among the community leaders in the area that received the entourage said “nobody died.”
