… one in critical condition at Irrua Specialist Hospital
… as Ighodalo visits, condoles with bereaved family
In what is perhaps a most tragic turn of events in the lead-up to the Edo State 2024 governorship election, the convoy of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, has been reported to have allegedly crushed one Emmanuel Edionwe and four of his friends to death on Warrake Road around Uzebba axis in Owan West Local Government Area in Edo State.
The fatal accident which occurred on Thursday has left the families of the deceased traumatized and devastated.
The victims were said to be returning from a burial ceremony when Okpebholo’s convoy rammed into their silver Camry sedan car, leading to their untimely death.
The bodies of five of the deceased victims were deposited at the Edo State University, Uzaurie Mortuary in Etsako West Local Government Area.
According to reports, a relative of Emmanuel Edionwe, one of the deceased, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “We are devastated beyond words. Emmanuel was a good, easy going boy who should not be dead today.
“He and his friends were driving in the Silver Camry car. After the accident, we just learnt that five of them have died due to the collision with Okpebholo’s convoy.
“Emmanuel and four of his friends are dead. There is just one of them who is in critical condition and is now being nursed to life at the hospital.”
Noting that Edionwe died at the Irrua Specialist Hospital (ISH) in Irrua, where he was later transferred to for specialist care, he said: “It was officials of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) that evacuated the bodies from the scene of the accident. Four of them died yesterday. One died this morning. There is only one surviving person in critical condition.”
Meanwhile, The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on Friday evening, paid a condolence visit to the family of Emmanuel Edionwe, one of the victims of a tragic accident involving the convoy of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Monday Okpebholo.
During his visit to the Edionwe family home in the suburb of Benin City, Ighodalo met with the mother of the deceased, who was visibly distraught over the painful loss of her son. He expressed his deep condolences over the unbearable loss of her son.
Ighodalo also spoke over the phone with Emmanuel’s father, who lives in the Diaspora. He wished the father God’s comfort as the family navigates the challenging time.
The PDP’s candidate who noted that no words can adequately express the pain of losing a loved one, offered words of solace and prayed with the family, seeking God’s divine strength for them in their mourning.
Ighodalo also had a moment with Emmanuel’s elder sister, who had been with her brother at the hospital the night before he passed away. The sister, still broken by the shock of the tragic event, shared with the PDP candidate some of her last moments with her deceased brother.
Asue Ighodalo who was almost brought to tears prayed that God comforts the families of the deceased and grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
