OGUN PDP PRESS STATEMENT

COLLAPSED ABEOKUTA MARKET BUILDING: WE SYMPATHISE WITH VICTIMS; BUT IT IS ALSO AN INDICATION OF OGUN GOVERNMENT'S IRRESPONSIBILITY

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo hereby condemn the collapse of an about-to-be completed market structure at Itoku market in Abeokuta, the state capital in the early hours of today with many dead casualties, many still in critical conditions while many are severely injured.

While the total casualty figures is yet to be fully ascertained as many bodies are still being recovered from the rubbles, we quickly use this medium to condole with the many Ogun state families that have been thrown into untimely mourning owing to this sad but clearly avoidable incidence.

Let it be stated that accidents by their nature are unintentional and unforseen events which happen and thus, may not be attributed to be the deliberate doing of anyone, but for this particular incident, it is unfortunate that the APC government under the suffocative regime of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun is not just culpable but deliberately and wickedly so.

The PDP have always stated that this government is insincere and biting more than it could chew. Most of its projects are poorly conceptualised, unnecessary and self-aggrandizing; without any meticulous or rigorous planning. The projects are never subjected to competitive bidding and usually awarded to lackeys of the governor who receive ridiculous monies to execute poor jobs while government pockets the padded balance.

Of all the jamboree projects of governor Amosun, only the Ibara-Totoro road barely passed the integrity test of structural scrutiny. The flyover bridge on the Ijebu-Ode expressways is a disaster waiting to happen as many of its joints are already giving way and had been patched several times even before commissioning.

The NNPC-Leme-Abiola way road was always being reinforced before it was hurriedly tarred to meet up with President Buhari's visit few weeks back; suffice to say the dual flyover bridge at Iyana-Mortuary Abeokuta (needless in the first instance) is another potential future disaster because of its steep bend and poor joints. And back to the markets, the Omida market that was commissioned by Buhari two months back is still undergoing works and far from usage; ditto for others.

These are few of the many poor jobs across the state and we wonder how many lives will still be lost in future. This government prefers quantity to quality and prefers to invest in eye-service projects rather than invest in critical areas like Education, health and economic infrastructure that are in decay. Many Bridges, roads and markets remain abandoned across the state and to save its face, government may just patch- up their finishings with attendant future consequences.

Our party condemns this development in its entirety and urge the government to immediately accept responsibility and apologise for the disaster. It must also compensate the families of the dead and injured. Compensation must also go to many Ogun families that are psychologically injured owing to failure of government to compensate them (or adequately so) for their houses and sources of livelihood that was destroyed to pave way for these self-seeking and unsatisfactory projects.

It is indeed a sad day for Ogun people and we sympathise with them. We urge them to be strong and bare the pains for three more years when a more reasonable, people-focused and compassionate party will return to power to assuage their pains and wipe away their tears. We pray for the repose of the soul of the dead and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.


(Signed)

Adeniji Bolaji
State Publicity Secretary