PDP, UPN, others seek probe of Ogun building collapse

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria have commiserated with the families of the victims of a building being built by the state government, which collapsed in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Friday.

The parties also called for the probe of the contractors that handled the construction job.

A four-storied ultramodern market being constructed by the state government at the historical Itoku market Abeokuta had collapsed, killing one person and leaving several others injured.

In separate statements made available to our correspondent, the state chapters of PDP and the UPN condemned some of the projects being executed by the government as shoddy.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bolaji Adeniji, accused the government of being culpable.

The statement read in part, “The PDP has always stated that this government is insincere and biting more than it could chew. Most of its projects are poorly conceptualised, unnecessary and self-aggrandising and without any meticulous or rigorous planning.

“The projects are never subjected to competitive bidding and usually awarded to lackeys of the governor who receive ridiculous monies to execute poor jobs.

“Of all the jamboree projects of Governor (Ibikunle) Amosun, only the Ibara-Totoro Road barely passed the integrity test of structural scrutiny. The flyover bridge at Ijebu-Ode is a disaster waiting to happen as many of its joints are already giving way and had been patched several times.”

The state Chairman of the UPN, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Oginni, alleged that the party lost one of its members in the incident.

She said: “I urge the (state) government to please tell the entire citizens of Ogun State what happened, who the contractors are and why they have not acted with due diligence. They must be brought to book.

“It should be noted that our party lost a member from Ward 4, Abeokuta South Local Government in person of Mrs. Naimat Oloponda, in this incident and we commiserate with her family and others affected.”

The state governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2015 election, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, in a statement, described the incident as avoidable.

He said, “I have heard about some private projects suffering this type of unfortunate fate but with capacity to put in place a control, monitoring mechanism and measures in the custody of civil service professionals; it is rare in government project from tax payers’ money.”

Also, the Chairman, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Ogun State chapter, Mr. Yinka Folarin, while commiserating with the people of the state, said the disaster must be investigated, most especially the contractor handling the project.

“This is an issue that must that must not be swept under the carpet. This is a case that involves lives,” he said.

Meanwhile, survivors of the building collapse were in stable condition when our correspondent visited the state General Hospital, Ijaiye, where they are receiving treatment on Saturday.

The survivors, who are now five, had suffered various degrees of injuries.

One of the victims who had been reported dead after surgical operation by official sources eventually survived.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, also visited the survivors on Saturday to verify their condition.

The commissioner told journalists that contrary to government’s earlier confirmation that two persons lost their lives, it has now been confirmed that only one person died in the incident.

Punch