The immediate-past Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Akwa Ibom, Oyong Asuquo, died on Saturday in a motor accident.
Asuquo, a close confidant of Gov. Godswill Akpabio, was killed in the auto crash which occurred on Oruko-Okobo road.
According to Asuquo’s aide, who pleaded anonymity, the deceased had a night long meeting in Oron, ahead of today’s (Saturday) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship primary election and was returning to Uyo when the accident occurred.
The late Asuquo was a former Chairman of Oron Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, the Akwa Ibom Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Fidelis Osakwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Asuquo drove himself when the accident occurred.
He said the crash could have been as a result of over-speeding.
“He (Asuquo) actually died at about 9.15 a.m.,” Osakwe said.
Also speaking with NAN, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Onyeka Orji, confirmed the death of the erstwhile commissioner.
“The details are still sketchy, the police are investigating, but I can confirm to you that the man died in a motor accident,” Orji said.
Asuquohad? been in the State Executive Council as Commissioner since the inception of Akpabio’s administration in 2007 and was recognised as the political leader of the Oron people.
The state cabinet was dissolved a few days ago.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a youth leader in Oron, Mr Sylvester Edet, lamented the accident which he described as unfortunate.
Edet expressed regrets that the accident took place on the day the people of Oron were planning a reception for their “illustrious son'' and Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Bassey Ewa.
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