GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has ordered the suspension of the ongoing capacity building workshop for members of the state’s School Governing Boards (SGBs).
This announcement came on the heels of the death of four participants at the workshop comprising three secondary school principals and an account officer, in an accident that occurred on Oyo-Ogbomoso road.
In the incident which occurred last Wednesday, the commercial bus driver conveying the principals also died while six others sustained various degrees of injuries.
State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, who conveyed the governor’s directive, in a statement, on Sunday, said that the training scheduled for January 25th and 26th in Ibarapa/Kajola and Saki/Irepo zones respectively had been suspended indefinitely.
The affected persons were returning to Ogbomoso after attending a workshop organized for members of the SGBs by Centre for Organizational and Professional Ethics (COPE), in conjunction with the state ministry of education, science and technology, held in Oyo township.
Olowofela had earlier led a delegation of top government officials on a condolence visit to the families of the deceased, where he announced that the state government would foot the hospital bill of the injured currently admitted at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
While praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased, he cautioned against politicisation of the sad incident which, he said, called for sobriety and sympathy.
“Oyo State Government is sensitive to the welfare and well-being of its workers and the citizens in general, hence, the workshop was spread across five centres in line with the zonal standing of the state.”
“The same programme had earlier been held successfully at the Ibadan city and Ibadan fewer city centres where participants from contiguous locations had converged, without recording any incident.”
“This is not the time to whip up unnecessary sentiment, which will not help the situation on ground. Accidents are natural phenomena that occur even in homes and even within the townships.
“It is in honour of the deceased that the governor ordered that we should suspend the workshop scheduled for Ibarapa/Kajola and Saki/Irepo centres till further notice.”
“These heroes and heroine died in the line of duty and therefore, should be allowed to rest in peace.
“We use this opportunity to call on the good people of Oyo State to join us in praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased and to stand by the bereaved families at this difficult period. May their souls rest in peace,” the statement read.
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