Monday Okpebholo
By Victory Oghene
The convoy of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, Monday Okpebholo, allegedly crushed one Emmanuel Edionwe and four of his friends on Warrake Road around Uzebba axis in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.
The accident, supported by videos and photographs of the victims, was reported to have occurred on Thursday as the campaign wound down.
The bodies of four of the deceased victims were deposited at the Edo State University, Uzaurie Mortuary in Etsako West Local Government Area.
Reports said that Okpebholo’s convoy rammed into the victims’ silver Camry sedan car when they were attempting to negotiate a sharp bend on the road, with many witnesses stating that the accident occurred as a result of reckless driving.
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 in Irrua, where he was later transferred to for specialist care, he said: “It was officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps 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.”
The source noted that Okpebholo sneaked to check on the victims in the hospital they had been rushed to in Auchi after the accident.
He and the APC are, however, yet to comment on the incident.
The relative of the deceased said: “We feel really bad that the APC has not said anything about the accident.
“It is insensitive.
“No one who suffers such a loss should be left without closure.”
