Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Friday, expressed deep sadness and condolences to the family of Pius Etim, a young man who tragically lost his life in an unfortunate incident on Thursday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, following heavy rainfall.

Okpebholo described the collapsed mast that killed Pius Etim during the heavy rainfall as “unfortunate, sad, and painful.”

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a young man, Pius Etim, during the intense rainfall and collapse of a mast at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.”

Okpebholo extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Pius Etim during this difficult time.

He said, “On behalf of the people of Edo State, I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Pius Etim. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this period of grief.”

Okpebholo, however, frowned upon the attitude of leaders and members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who took to various social media platforms on Thursday night to celebrate the unfortunate death of Pius Etim.

Okpebholo said 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 show that the collapsed structure at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was erected by the administration of Godwin Obaseki, which did a shabby job. It is unfortunate that Obaseki and the PDP in Edo State, known for their lack of integrity, hired compromised contractors to erect defective structures at the stadium.

The poor job executed by the Obaseki administration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which led to Pius Etim’s unfortunate death, will be investigated. If found liable, the contractors or PDP members who may have handled the poor job will face the full wrath of the law.