As Floods Ravage Osogbo, PDP Accuses Osun Govt Of Neglecting Critical Infrastructure

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Some residents living in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have had their property destroyed by the flood that ravaged a section of the capital city, on Tuesday.

However, a corpse was found, washed away by the flood, at Sadia Area, Osogbo, while the perimeter fence of the Osun State Government House in Oke-fia, was also damaged by the heavy downpour.

Security operatives were reported to had also restricted vehicles from accessing Oke-fia through the road from Lameco area.

However, our correspondents observed that a temporary fence had been erected at the Government House.

It was also gathered that a motorcycle was found beside Oke-Ijetu bridge while the owner was said to have been washed away by the flood.

CityMirrorNews gathered that a 3-hour downpour started around 8 pm and lasted till around 11 pm.

Those most affected were landlords at Onireke, Obate, Awosuru, Sadiat, Testing Ground, Atimowa in Osogbo, where the flood had surged into numbers of buildings and destroyed property worth millions of naira

Shops dealing in cement, flour, pharmacy, Gas stations, bakeries, boutiques and provisions stores were affected including churches. Residential houses were also destroyed.

The flood reportedly sacked residents of the areas from their houses.

Speaking with the Baale of Oke-Ijetu, Chief Taiwo Agboola, he said he could not confirm if the motorcyclist is alive as residents are still searching the river for the corpse as houses were also said to be damaged.

The High Chief said he had informed the Special Adviser For Environment and Sanitation to Osun State Governor, Oyegbile Rufus, and that he has promised to visit the area.

He, however, lamented the failure of the government to dredge the river, noting that it has caused havoc in the area.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, while reacting, sympathized with the victims of the flood incident just as it urged the state government to rise up to its task of protecting lives and prosperity of the people of the state.

PDP in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Ayodeji Areola, and made available to CityMirrorNews berated what it described “as the increasing deterioration of Osun state public infrastructures and notable assets.

“Latest of this is the collapse of perimeter fence of Government House at GRA, Okefia, the state Capital.”

“It is also very disturbing, the disruption of economic activities of the good people of Osun State by officials of the state government who have blocked the road leading to the government house, in attempt to shield the ugly scene from public glare.

“Our party felt ashamed as many portions of township roads in Osogbo, the usual poster center of performance of this administration, were heavily submerged in heavy flooding yesterday night, just after a 30minutes rainfall.

“This, as we speak, has led to massive loss of means of livelihood of many people worth several millions of Naira in the state, including a reported loss of life at Awosuru area of the state capital.

“Many residents around Oke-Ayepe, Rasco, Dada Estate, Nitel Okefia and several other areas of the State Capital were agonizingly trapped in the preventable flooding, such that many had to abandon their efforts to access their individual homes out of frustration.

“This certainly is not a good deal for our people. It is certainly the lowest point in the history of our State.

“One wonders what has Mr Oyetola been doing in the past 3years if he could not maintain the house bequeathed on him as Governor of the state.

“A visit to all local government headquarters will send jitters to the spine of any patriotic mind in the state. Most of these edifices put in place by the PDP administration are in very bad state of disrepair and it is very sad.” he said

Reacting, the state government of Osun under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola assured the citizens of the state Intervention, urging them to remain calm.

The Government in a statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, and made available to CityMirrorNews, assured victims of flood disaster that government was already assessing the impact of the flood .

Egbemode said: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to call for calm among citizens, and assure victims of Tuesday’s flood disaster in the state that government is already assessing the impact of the flood .

“Government has activated its emergency response system, comprising stakeholders in disaster management, which include environmental management officers, health workers and security agencies, to respond efficiently to the incident where necessary.

“The government therefore appeals to those who this sad incident has affected in any way to remain calm and await prompt and lasting solution in the overall interest of the state. Citizens are also advised to be vigilant in the wake of the season’s downpour of varying intensity, and desist from unsafe waste disposal which poses greater hazards to the environment.

“The government is mindful of its responsibilities to protect lives and property under all circumstances, and it shall continue to do so at all times.