…Orders Strict Compliance Of Mounted Barricade
The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said that he received the news of the accident In Akungba-Akoko which claimed the lives of residents, including students, with a heavy heart.
The governor said that 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, the incident was not expected.
Governor Akeredolu, therefore, in clear terms, had ordered that a barricade be mounted at the troubled portion of the road to prevent heavy duty trucks from plying that route.
While commiserating with the people of Akungba-Akoko, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area, as well as families if the victims of the accident, the governor expressed disappointment at 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. If people truly value lives, and understand that whatever money you made 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, therefore, warned all community leaders, youth leaders or their representatives, and other residents of the town to immediately desist from the unwholesome act of flouting the governor’s directive by opening this barricade for articulated trucks.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said that government will henceforth, deploy armed security personnel to man this barricade and deal decisively with anyone found opening this barricade for articulated trucks.
Akeredolu further assured that construction of the bad portion of the road will commence in no distance time, as the design for the road is ready, adding that “he road, being a federal road, shall not impair Mr Governor’s determination to save lives.”
Governor Akeredolu expressed concern over the needless death of the residents, especially students of the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, whose dreams and aspirations have been cut short in their prime.
