By Gbenga Ariyibi
ADO-EKITI—At least, five people lost their lives at Ido Ekiti, headquarters Ido Osi Local Government area of Ekiti State, Monday, when a tanker conveying fuel hit a ditch, while a residential house belonging to a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and state Coordinator of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Chaief Femi Akinyemi was completely razed down.

The fuel tanker was said to be on its way to Abuja from Apapa, Lagos, when it lost control at Ido-Ekiti, killing four people who were on a motorbike popularly called Okada.

The resultant inferno razed down Chief Akinyemi’s house Vanguard gathered that  no life was lost in the house of Chief Akinyemi , as he was said to have relocated to his Usi Ekiti country home three days ago to celebrate the New Year with members of his family.

The tanker was said to have burst into flames shortly when it hit the ditch, while the house of the PDP chieftain which was at a very short distance was burnt beyond recognition.

The driver of tanker and one other person that were also injured in the accident are now receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Ido-Ekiti.

Some  of the early callers at the scene of the incident was the immediate past former governor of the state, Engr Segun   Oni who  had to rush to the scene from his Ifaki-Ekiti country home when he was informed.

Oni who decried the spate of accidents and its attendance loss of lives and properties in the country in the last few months, called for prayers to avert disasters in the country.

The former governor who recalled some of the recent auto accidents and bomb blasts in various parts of the country , said an end must be put to the wastage of  lives and properties of Nigerians through avoidable incidents like bomb explosions.

“The spate of deaths and destruction of properties through auto accidents and bomb blast witnessed in this country in the last four weeks is alarming. Look at the number of people that are dead here now and see how a whole building has been razed down by an accident that could have been avoided if the driver had been careful enough.

Just last Friday, the Secretary to the Government of Benue State, Dr. Audu  Achigili was cut down in his prime by a motor accident while several Nigerians have been killed by agents of the devil that have been throwing bombs everywhere. It is my prayer that God in His infinite mercies will console those whose love ones have been lost to these avoidable incidents and that he will intervene in the affairs of this country because as it is now, we need divine intervention.”

Also speaking on the incident, Chief Akinyemi said he was short of words but can only thank God for sparing his life and that of members of his family.

“What I have lost today cannot be quantified in terms of cash but I thank God that I am still alive because if myself and my family members were to be inside the house, we would have all perished in the inferno too. I also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.