On March 3, a heavy downpour in Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, resulted in the destruction of over 105 structures, leaving several people homeless. The rainfall began at around 3 o’clock and caused damage to the town’s energy facilities, resulting in residents being left without power.
On Saturday, March 4, Monisade Afuye, the state’s deputy governor, visited the affected region and described the event as highly devastating. In a statement released by Victor Ogunje, the Deputy Governor’s Special Assistant for Media, Governor Biodun Oyebanji expressed relief that no one had died in the storm. The statement read:
“On behalf of his Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, I sympathize with you on the destruction caused by rainstorm to many residential buildings and electricity poles in this town, which we believe must have affected the wellbeing of the victims. Information at our disposal and on-the-spot assessment revealed that roofs of scores of residential buildings and electricity facilities were destroyed during the stormy rainfall, thereby rendering many homeless and helpless. We sympathize with the victims at this trying time and plead for calmness, in the sense that natural disaster of this nature is one occurrence that is difficult to control. But with personal precautions and right efforts, its effects can be minimized. That was why the Governor Oyebanji’s administration is ready to support interested individuals to go into tree planting and the programs will soon be rolled out to safeguard our environment and minimize havoc being wreaked on our buildings by rainstorm. Tree planting is very essential. I observed that landlords here are not planting trees, I am not seeing them standing beside our houses. Let us inculcate the habit of tree planting to serve as windbreakers against the storm. Let me also assure you that the state government won’t abandon you and allow you to regret in this current devastating condition. We shall give all the necessary support to mitigate whatever effect this situation must have caused to your lives.”
