Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described the horrific accident that occurred on Wednesday in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Council Area of Ondo State, as unfortunate and avoidable.
Aiyedatiwa, who visited the scene of the accident and the community to commiserate with the families of the victims, assured that strict compliance would be enforced on the route.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, visited the palace of the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Isiaka Oseni, to condole with him and the community over the unfortunate incident.
He also met with the students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, as well as some locals.
He said, “We received the unfortunate news with rude shock, and as a government, we are deeply saddened. Kabiyesi, we commiserate with you and the entire people of Akungba Akoko. We feel your pain.”
While sympathising with the crowd of mourners, he stated that the incident was preventable if motorists had adhered to traffic regulations and the highway code.
The governor revealed that plans had been concluded to restore the barricade and other obstructions that were damaged by the long vehicle and to ensure strict compliance with traffic instructions along the Ikare-Akungba highway.
On his part, the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Isiaka Oseni, thanked the governor for the condolence visit as he mentioned all the steps he had taken to sustain peace and security in the town since being installed.
Also, the General Secretary of the AAUA Students’ Union Government, Bakare Abiodun, pleaded with the government to enforce strict compliance with traffic instructions and bring violators to justice.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, has assured residents of the community that the Police Command is working with other security agencies to restore normalcy and prevent a recurrence of the fatal truck accident.
Lawal, who spoke during an on-the-spot assessment of the scene on Thursday, said the students and residents had conducted themselves peacefully despite their grief.
“I want to correct that impression – not that they are really angry per se, but they have embarked on peaceful protests. We have been discussing constructively and objectively with each other,” he said.
The Commissioner explained that the Police had been engaging with the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), even before the tragedy occurred, as part of efforts to ensure safety and orderliness in the area.
