Woman loses medical doctor husband, 3 kids to Ibadan flood


* Declare Ibadan a disaster area, Olubadan tells FG

The death of a 37-year-old medical doctor and a member of staff of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Olakunle Benjamin Akinyele, along with three children in his residence at Ijokodo junction on Sango-Eleyele Road, Ibadan, has further exacerbated the havoc caused by last Friday’s flood in the Oyo State capital.

The magnitude of the loss of lives and destruction of property has forced the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, to call on the Federal Government to declare the state capital as a disaster area and to make enough money available for reconstruction, re-engineering and rehabilitation of the flood ravaged ancient city. Special Adviser to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja on Security and a neighbour of the Akinyeles, Mr. Bola Alphonso, who conducted journalists round the residence of the deceased, a four-flat storey building already sacked by the flood, said the late doctor had gone out before the rain started.

Alphonso said that on his arrival, the flood, which came through the backyard, had collapsed the fence and gushed in through the toilet ferociously and about submerging the ground floor of the building. He added that Akinyele, moved by fatherly care to save his trapped children in the house, entered the house, but was overwhelmed by the force of the flood and got drowned along with the three children, two of whom were his biological children and the other, his cousin living with the family. Alphonso added that the only surviving son had to hold onto a plank in the ceiling and was hanging until neighbours came to his rescue.

The neighbour explained that the news of the death of the doctor and his children was not broken until the arrival of his wife, Olubukola, a nurse, from her afternoon duty at the UCH later that night when she discovered that her husband and the children had been submerged by the flood. “This is a tragedy that is too much for a family of a young man like that. It is only God that can console the poor widow who will now live her live without a husband and two of her children,” said Alphonso.

Speaking with journalists, the Olubadanin- Council led by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye, after an on-the- spotassessment of the flood at Apete, a community already cut off from the rest of the state by the flood, noted that by declaring the city a disaster area, it would afford government the opportunity of urban renewal as the case in foreign countries. Kuye, who was accompanied by other ranking chiefs of the council, including Lekan Balogun and Eddy Oyewole, added that the tour had made them to see the gravity of the unfortunate incident, which he described as a sad reminder of the Ogunpa flood disaster which occurred in the city about 31 years ago.

The council also noted that the disaster wrecked a first hand degree of damage, stressing that “the government must make sufficient preparations for the future. Look at it now, it is impossible for the students to cross the river and traders not able to go for their businesses. The loss of lives gives Olubadan a lot of concern. The flood was beyond control.”


http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/19518.html

OOOh No that is so terrific , but the only thing we should do is pray for their Souls and The families of the grieved because its not easy, oh what a sad story i have heard !!!

This life. These sorts of stories would make you wonder whether God cares - if He exists. Really.

what a pity

@op,

Is this news from a newspaper or do you know these family personally?

I wonder if there's any way to help in a little way. No one prays wish for bad things like this but when they do, women must be supported by all means possible.

Is there any way or any group we can team with without the usual politics to simply help women and children? There are places we can source for supplies here in U.S for families to help a little. And I may be able to get token donation from people if we know whom to contact. This story is heart wrenching, please father, have mercy on us!