A tragic incident at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City resulted in the death of Pius Etim, a driver, following the collapse of a mast during heavy rainfall on Thursday night.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, attributed the incident to alleged substandard construction work by contractors hired during the tenure of the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and announced plans for an investigation into the construction practices of the contractors involved.
He stated, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a young man, Pius Etim, during the intense rainfall and the collapse of a mast at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.”
He extended his heartfelt sympathies, saying, “On behalf of the people of Edo State, I offer my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this period of grief.”
The governor criticized members of the PDP for allegedly celebrating the unfortunate event on social media, describing their actions as “callous and lacking empathy.”
He remarked, “Such callousness and lack of empathy for the family of the deceased show that the PDP in Edo State has lost touch with the people it once governed.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the mast collapsed due to strong winds accompanying the rain. Eyewitnesses reported that Etim was attempting to salvage decorating materials for a praise night event when the mast fell, resulting in fatal injuries. A police officer present at the scene described the incident as “a gory sight,” confirming that the strong winds were responsible for the mast’s collapse.
Governor Okpebholo vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the poor construction, stating, “The poor job executed by the administration of Obaseki at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which led to the unfortunate death of Pius Etim, will be investigated. The contractors or PDP members who may have handled the poor work, if found liable, will face the full wrath of the law.”
The incident not only claimed a life but also disrupted a praise night event that was part of the governor’s 100 days in office celebrations.
