By Gbenga Ojikutu
The Ekiti State Government, has pledged to roll out palliatives for the victims of rainstorm that destroyed some houses at Ilokun, a farmstead under Ado Ekiti metropolis, on Saturday.
A torrential downpour, accompanied with heavy storm, that lasted for over two hours, had destroyed over seven buildings at the community located along Ado-Iworoko road, thereby rendering the victims homeless.
Speaking during a visit to the community for on- the- spot assessment, on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji sympathised with the victims, promising that the government will lend a hand of support to cushion the effects on the victims.
Mrs Afuye, according to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, urged the victims to compile their lists and send to the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency(EKSEMA) for immediate action.
The Deputy Governor, who was accompanied by officials of the EKSEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), appealed to residents to embrace maintenance culture on their buildings to checkmate recurrent cases of wreckage being witnessed during rainstorm.
“Let me on behalf of Governor Biodun Oyebanji sympathise with you on this unexpected occurrence. She directed me to be here for on the spot assessment of the level of wreckage on your buildings.
“We thank God that no life was lost and whatever that had happened to your buildings can still be repaired, but any life that lost can’t be replaced. This is the way I want you to view this matter.
“You know that our government is pro-masses, we are going to help you in whatever way we can to cushion whatever effect this occurrence is having on you.
“We thank God that the officials of NEMA and EKSEMA are here with me. They will start acting immediately you submit your letters to their offices.
“But I want our people to always take actions that can prevent their buildings from being blown away by storm. We must try and make the right renovations on our structures before the beginning of the raining season.
“What we lack majorly is maintenance culture and we have to change our orientation in the interest of our safety”.
The Permanent Secretary, EKSEMA, Mr. Jide Borode, promised that the agency will act appropriately as soon as it receives the letters
Responding on behalf of the victims, Mr. Rasheed Akinrinade, applauded the government for deeming it for to assess the level of wreckage in the community, saying this further attested to the widespread notion that Governor Oyebanji is a pro-masses leader.
Akinrinade appealed to the government to release the promised relief materials in time to help mitigate the level of sufferings of those whose houses were destroyed by heavy wind.
