Wednesday, July 7, 2010 would remain unforgettable in the minds of residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital. It was a day heavy downpour claimed two lives and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

No fewer than three houses were also submerged in the rain that lasted for six hours.

The rain started just like any other and did not show any sign of destructive tendency, until everywhere became flooded and houses and other physical structures, especially those along the river bank began to submerge.

While some of the residents were awoken by the flood, others woke up early enough to discover that they have been surrounded by flood. Hundreds of people were trapped in churches and places where they had gone to worship.

The torrential rain started at about few minutes to 12 midnight and did not stop until 5.30 am in the morning. Out of the two persons that died in the flood, one of them, it was learnt, was a Junior Secondary School three student whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report. The pupil, it was gathered fell from a tipper lorry which was being used to convey commuters across the flooded areas and could not be immediately rescued and was swept away by the flood.

Apart from the two lives that were lost to the flood, some cows, household items, wares, food items, beverages, cars, lorries, tippers, drums of vegetables oil and others were swept away by the flood. About 20 public and private schools have part of their compounds washed away by the flood as well as several electric poles and communication installations.

However, quick intervention of men of the State Fire service and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (MSCDC) saved many woman and children from being swept away by the flood. The second victim was said to have just taken loan facility from her cooperative society to boost her business before the incident.

Several shops, kiosks and market stalls were swept away while 10 houses collapsed due to the devastating effect of the flood. The havoc was more felt in areas like Alekuwodo, Rasco Cinema, Dada Estate, Ilobu Road, Sabo, Oke – Baale, Sawmill, Isale Elelede, Gbonmi, Obate, Owode and other suburbs in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Governments.

For instance, the flood completely sacked hundreds of traders at Alekunwodo market as the entire market flooded. The situation led to the blocking of some major streets and roads thus resulting in heavy traffic logjam throughout the day. Motorists travelling outside the state spent several hours before they could pass through Osogbo town. Several public servants could not report for duty due to the flood.

An official of the NSCDC told reporters that over 150 persons who were trapped in their houses were rescued and that in the process, a storey building from which people were trapped collapsed.

Many people were rendered homeless and now staying with their relations and neighbours.

Observers said that lack of effective town planning and poor drainage system made the situation worsen. It was gathered that the town planning system in the state was left in the hand of local government officials and that approval for any structure could easily be secured so long as owners grease the palms of the council officials.

The impacts of the State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA) and State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) were not felt as the two agencies have been complaining of inadequate funding. A source in one of the establishments who do not want his name in print revealed that this year budgetary allocations to the agencies are yet to be released.

Osun State Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada and other officials who went round the affected areas commiserated with the victims.

The Deputy Governor who attributed the disaster to the blockage of waterways with buildings and dumping of refuse by recalcitrant inhabitants urged residents to desist from the act.

Osun State Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Ademola Rasaq in his reaction sympathized with the victims and urged them to put their hope in God, “who knows and has answer to every problem”.

Rasaq while condoling with the families of those who lost their lives during the downpour, also charged residents to desist from dumping refuse on water ways and inside drainages. He also called on town planning and environmental officers to always adhere strictly to all rules and regulations pertaining to town planning.

But the opposition party, Action Congress (AC) has blamed the current administration for failure to construct drainage channels in the town. The party in a statement signed by the State Director of Research and Strategy, Sunday Akere commiserated with the residents who lost properties to the flood.

The party while noting that the flood that ravaged the town has brought to the fore, the ineptitude of the Oyinlola led PDP government in the state, regretted the pains and losses incurred by people.

According to the statement, “the Oyinlola government failed to maintain the drainages built by the Akande government. The perusal flooding problem was one of the failures and ineptitudes of what Oyinlola led PDP government epitomizes in Osun State since it took over power in 2003”.