AT least six people lost their lives, while six others were seriously wounded in an auto accident involving the convoy of the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Sunday.

Three people died in the Government House Press Crew bus, while another three died in the commercial bus that rammed into the convoy. The commercial bus was said to have rammed into the Press Crew bus, which was in the governor’s convoy, on the Okitipupa-Akinfosile road while the governor was returning from the militants disarmament programme at Arogbo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state and was on his way to Lagos for another official engagement.

Governor Mimiko has expressed his heartfelt condolence to the families ofthe three officials of the Government House Press Crew who died in the auto crash.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, disclosed that the governor was shocked and personally touched that the three men, who he described as dutiful, loyal and committed to their duties, lost their lives in the course of their official duties.

The driver of the commercial bus was said to have lost control of the vehicle and, in the process, rammed into the convoy of the governor. The government vehicle was also said to have somersaulted three times before catching fire.

An eyewitness said that the driver of the Press Crew bus and two other persons died, while the three occupants of the commercial bus also lost their lives.

Olabisi said the governor also commiserated with the families of the occupants of the commercial vehicle, who lost their lives in the accident. The statement added that Mimiko had to cancel all official engagements, including his attendance of the meetings of the National Council of States and the Governors’ Forum in Abuja, due to the sad incident.

While praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased, the governor called on God to give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.

The governor enjoined all citizens of Ondo State to intensify their prayers to God for peace, tranquility, safety on the road and prosperity in the state. The remains of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of the Okitipupa General Hospital, while those injured were also rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has declared a three-day mourning period, following the death of two of its members and a driver attached to the Press Crew.

A statement by the state chairman of the union, Mr. Dele Atunbi, described the incident as a tragedy, which should be of concern to all journalists. Messers Elekan S.B. and Adewunmi Olatunji, of the state Ministry of Information were members of the union who died in the accident.

The union said the recurring death of journalists in governors’ convoys called for an investigation. Atunbi recalled that six of its members died in the convoy of the Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, in 2003, while five others died in 2006 in the convoy of former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye.

While commiserating with the families of the two journalists, the NUJ sympathised with the government and the people of Ondo State over the irreparable losses.




http://www.tribune.com.ng/06102009/news/news3.html

very sad .