Mimiko commiserates with Ondo accident victims, promises to fix danger spots as Governor

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

The Labor Party Flag bearer in Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has commiserated with the people of Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko-North East Local Government Area of the State over the death of about 25 people in a road accident which occurred last weekend when a trailer loaded with rice ran into a market and crushed the victims to death.

Mimiko who had challenged the victory of Dr Olusegun Agagu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 14, 2007 governorship election was on July 25 declared as the Governor-elect of Ondo State by the Justice Garba Nabaruma led Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified Agagu’s purported victory in the election.

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Mimiko in a statement issued in Akure on Sunday and signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, while expressing his sympathy with the people of the ancient city over the unfortunate incident, regretted that that portion of road in which the accident occurred had become a death trap for the people of the city in recent time.

“It is with a sad and heavy hearth that I commiserate with families of the victims and the entire people of Ikare Akoko over the sad incident which occurred last weekend when an articulated truck ran over innocent citizens who were out eking a living while selling their wares in the market.

“It is more saddening when the cause of this unfortunate incident, and others before it, is attributable to the poor state of the roads in Ikare Akoko and its environs. While we pray that God will console the families of the dead, the injured and those who lost their goods in the accident, we want to assure the people of Ondo State that such occurrences occasioned by bad roads would be eradicated as soon am sworn in as governor of the State next year because our administration would embark on mass construction of roads even if they are federal roads since our people are the ones who would use these roads.”

Last weekend, the media had reported the death of twenty five people mostly market women in a market when a trailer was said to have run through the market before it collided with an electricity pole with its front compartment bursting into flames. Many people were also rushed to the hospitals.

Eye-witness accounts said five motorcycles also caught fire as the trailer, a DAF 911, rammed into them by the side of the road, killing two of the riders instantly.

According to the witness, the driver of the truck, marked Ondo: XB 346AKK, with  the inscription Allah Ya Kiyaye lost control and headed straight into the Oja Oba market in the ancient town.