By Eseoghene Emuke
The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta South Senatorial District, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan says he is saddened by the election day boat mishap which claimed three lives along Benin River in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Uduaghan, who is the immediate past governor of Delta State, described the incident as unfortunate and saddening.
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 during the March 9 Governorship and Assembly elections in the area.
The former governor in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Monoyo Edon, on Tuesday, said the death figures would be higher if not for the swift intervention to rescue the victims.
Uduaghan added, “Frantic efforts were made to see all passengers on board were rescued alive but three persons who had earlier been declared missing were later found dead in the creeks of Warri North where the incident took place. This is highly unfortunate.”
According to him, 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 Delta APC leader while commiserating with the family of the victims and the people of Warri North, commended voters for defiling the difficult terrain to ensure that they cast their votes during the elections.
“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.
“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”, the statement added.
Uduaghan, who also hails from the area, however prayed for quick recovery for the remaining victims who were still receiving treatment in different hospitals in the area.
