….Exam Disrupted as Varsity Students Protest Death of Colleagues
By John Ugo
The Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has expressed deep worry over the accident that claimed the lives of two people.
Our correspondent gathered that those that died in the unfortunate accident were students Ondo State University, Akungba-Akoko.
The painful death made the students to embark on a peaceful protest on Friday where they call of the Governor to intervene in the recurrent death of students in the area.
The students protest made the school authority to cancel some some of semester examinations that were fixed for Friday.
The students lamented that an earlier accident that occurred on January 23, in front of the accident resulted in the death of some students.
The students lamented that they have been made repeated calls to the government for the dualisation of the road and the prevention of heavy duty trucks on the road to no avail.
The students said that it was rather unfortunate that three accidents have occurred in the area within the week.
The Governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,Mr. Richard Olatunde, that the incident was not expected given the steps that had been taken to forestall such occurrence after the incessant accidents that have claimed indigenes and students lives in the past.
He said that Governor Akeredolu had ordered that a barricade be mounted at the troubled portion of the road to prevent heavy duty trucks from plying that route.
He stressed Governor, expressed disappointment over people’s penchant for money over lives.
He said, “It is disheartening that some people have turned the barricade mounted by government to prevent these heavy trucks from plying the road, into a money-making venture.”
According to him, “If people truly value lives, and understand that whatever money you make at the expense of people’s lives is blood money. This particular incident was highly avoidable.”
“On several occasions, I have visited Akungba Akoko on the heels of incessant accidents. As part of our temporary solution to the situation, a barricade was mounted. It was expected that no heavy duty vehicle would ply that road again. However, we have received reports that some residents of the town open this barricade for heavy duty trucks to pass for a token.” the Governor was quoted to have said .
The Governor, therefore, warned all community leaders, youth leaders or representatives, and other residents of the town to immediately desist from the unwholesome act of flaunting the Governor’s directive by opening this barricade for articulated trucks.
Akeredolu said government would henceforth, deploy armed security personnel to man the barricades and deal decisively with anyone found opening the barricades for articulated trucks.
He assured that construction of the bad portions of the road would commence in no distance time as the design for the road is ready, adding that the road, being a Federal road, should not impair his determination to save lives.
Governor Akeredolu expressed concern over the needless death of the residents, especially students whose dreams and aspirations have been cut short in their prime.
