Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the death of six medical doctors and one driver in the State, in an accident involving a 13-passenger bus as the lowest point in the history of the State and a monumental loss not only to the people of Ekiti State but to Nigerians, declaring a three days of mourning for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The governor, who directed that all flags should be flown at half-mast, described the death as an eclipse of professional and intellectual figures, who lost their lives in active service to mankind, saying; “Ekiti has lost some of the best trees in its forest of medicine. I am deeply sad. This is one loss too many.”
In a release issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “Death of seven prominent indigenes of a State in one day and at the same period is a burden too heavy to bear and it is my prayer that God, who is the only giver and taker of live will give Ekiti people the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
The six doctors, who had an accident a few kilometres to Kaduna on their way to Sokoto to attend Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) event were Dr. Aladesanmi of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido-Ekiti; Dr. Ojo Taiwo of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH); NMA Secretary, Dr. Akinyele Lexy; Dr. Ogunseye of the Health Management Board (HMB); EKSUTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) President, Dr. Olajide, Dr. Adeniyi James of the FMC and a driver, Mr. Ajibola.
The governor urged families, friends and professional colleagues of the deceased, especially members of the NMA to solace in God who giveth and taketh when it pleases Him.
“It is my prayer that tragic incident like this will not be witnessed in Ekiti State again and that God in His infinite mercies will console the families of the deceased.
“On behalf of my family, Government and people of Ekiti State, I express our heartfelt condolence for the loss of these promising sons of Ekiti and wish their families, friends and professional colleagues the continued support and guidance of the Almighty God,” the governor said.
Also, a member of the seventh House of `Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has described the death of six members of the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association as a national calamity and underscored the fact that enough would have to be done to put the country’s roads’ infrastructure in good shapes.
Bamidele was reacting to the death of Six doctors working in the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State University Teaching hospital Ado Ekiti and the Ekiti State Hospitals’ Management Board, who died on Sunday while on their way to Sokoto State to attend the 2016 Annual General Meeting.
In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Monday by his media Aide, Ahmed Salami, Bamidele bemoaned the doctors’ death and called for proactive actions by stakeholders to reduce carnage on Nigerian roads.
Bamidele, who commiserated with the people of Ekiti State, the NMA and the families of the deceased over the irreparable loss, said losing such professionals to the cold hands of death was rather regrettable and saddening.
The former federal parliamentarian solicits adequate supports for the families of the deceased for them to get over the trauma caused by the sudden death of their breadwinners in such a sad and calamitous fashion.
“It saddens my heart that six consultants working in critical sections of the state and federal tertiary hospitals could die in one swell swoop. These are not just doctors but consultants in various fields of the health sector.
“No blood of any Nigerian citizen worth being lost to avoidable circumstances. As Equity State declared three days of mourning, it should also be cognizance of the fact that the deceased’s families must be supported to lessen their grieves.
“We are appeased by the fact that they lived worthy lives and they left footprints on the sand of time as medical practitioners who led their colleagues and contributed to the development of this country in no small measure.
“Added to this is the fact that God is the decider of human fate. He gives and takes lives at will. I pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased in the bosom of the lord the lord Jesus Christ”.