Another Tragedy Hits Bayelsa, Gov Sad

Three days into the New Year, tragedy has struck in Bayelsa State, with the death by road accident, of the Paramount Ruler of Ofoni Federated Community in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, HRH Auditor Onakpohor.

About 12 other traditional rulers however survived the accident. The bus which conveyed them was said to have somersaulted and skidded off the Ekeremor-Sagbama road before finding its way into the bush around the Sagbama axis.

This is coming a few days after the death of the state commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Elizabeth Bidei. The state governor is seriously pained by the death of the traditional ruler.

He had directed that victims of the accident be given immediate medical attention at the Sagbama General Hospital, while those with more serious injuries were moved to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.

The royal father was part of the team led by Senator Seriake Dickson on a New Year visit to the governor, Senator Douye Diri. He is deeply pained by the incident and had to direct the cancellation of the visit, according to a statement by the chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah.

The statement said the governor has been in a mournful mood since the news was broken to him by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who also hails from Ofoni.

“Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, is deeply saddened over the fatal accident that claimed the life of the accident. The occupants of the vehicle were rescued and taken to the Sagbama General Hospital where the injured were administered first aid while those with more serious injuries were stabilised and transferred to the Niger Delta Teaching Hospital at Okolobiri,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the governor has sympathized with families of the victims as well as Dickson, who was leader of the delegation.