The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, has described as “unfortunate” the death of the three passengers who drowned in the Benin River in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
DAILY POST reports that a speed boat last weekend capsized along the Ebrohimi Creek, leaving ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Security Operatives dead.
Uduaghan, who was the Delta South Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement said, “A boat carrying 23 passengers, including the driver had capsized around Ebrohimi waterway after colliding with a fishing boat along the Benin River, while heading for Koko on Saturday night.
“Frantic efforts were made to see all passengers on board were rescued alive but three persons, who were earlier been declared missing, were later found dead in the creeks of Warri North where the incident took place. This is highly unfortunate.
Uduaghan, who was saddened by the incident, stressed that, “the deceased persons, paid the supreme price for the nation’s democracy by travelling home to their various polling units to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in the March 9 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election.”
The former governor stated that more casualties would have been recorded from the incident if not for the quick intervention by various persons to rescue the victims.
Uduaghan posited that despite the difficult terrain where voters had to travel through water to their polling units located in the riverine areas, electorate in the Warri North travelled back home in an orderly manner to ensure that votes count during election period.
According to Uduaghan, “Our beloved three brothers died In their quest in ensuring that the votes of our people in the riverine area count in the March 9 election.
“This is to tell Nigerians the risk our people particularly in Delta South most often go through during electioneering period to vote for the candidate of their choice. I commiserate with the family of the deceased and the people of Warri North”.
Uduaghan also sympathised with victims who are still receiving treatment at various hospitals in the locality from injuries sustained during the boat accident, and wish them speedy recovery.
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