Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said the death of, at least, 35 children at the Children Christmas Funfair, held in Ibadan last Wednesday, was sobering and could have been avoided if due diligence had been done by the organisers.
The governor stated this on Friday when he received leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-East geopolitical zone who paid him a visit to condole with him over the sad incident.
Governor Makinde declared that, apart from cancelling a birthday lecture planned in his honour in Ebonyi State, he had decided to cancel his birthday party on 25 December to honour the departed souls.
Makinde appreciated the South-East PDP leaders, led by the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees and former Senate President, Dr Adolphus Wabara, for their show of love and for letting the residents of Oyo State know that “they are not alone in these sad times.”
Those in the South-East PDP delegation included a former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu; a former National Secretary of the party, Senator Ben Obi; a former PDP National Woman Leader, Iyom Josephine Anenih;
New PDP National Secretary, Chief SKE Udeokoye; PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Ali Odefa; Chief Obasi Elebi and the Ebonyi State PDP chairman, Chief Onyema Nwele.
Makinde said: “We flew into Abuja and planned to be on our way to Ebonyi, when the sad event started unfolding on Wednesday. First, we had to secure the place. I sent the security people in there.
“The most painful part for me was that this incident could have been avoided altogether and the deceased are innocent children.
“By the time I got to Abuja and I got the full report, I said there was no way we could go on to Ebonyi. But I appreciate all the arrangements and commitment that we were able to see, from my able leader and former National Secretary, Senator Ben Obi.
“The love from the South-East is not lost on me and the people of Oyo State. I really want to say thank you for the love.
“You are the first set of leaders that came physically to commiserate with the Government and the people of Oyo State for that unfortunate incident.
“Yes, some people have called, reached out but in terms of physical presence, you are the first. That will not be lost on the people of Oyo State.
“This is not a day for long speeches; it is a day that is really sobering for me personally. Not only did I cancel the event in Ebonyi, I told everyone that I would stay indoors on my birthday. There is no party; I have sent the message out.
“It has been a difficult year, really. Early in the year, we had the Bodija explosion. We managed through quite a bit. But we are strengthened by the show of support for us, to let us know that we are not alone in facing all of these.
“So, on behalf of the Government and the people of Oyo State, we want to appreciate you for coming to commiserate with us and to let us know we are not alone.”
Speaking earlier, Dr Wabara expressed the condolences of the South-East PDP to Governor Makinde. He noted that the governor is much loved in the South-East and the PDP leaders have chosen to visit to commiserate with him and the people of the state.
“Your Excellency, the people you see here this afternoon came all the way from Enugu, the political capital of the South-East, on hearing what happened to you and the good people of Oyo State two days ago.
“Yesterday [Thursday], the entire South-East waited for you but, as a statesman, a man who loves his people, you cancelled the meeting because fire was burning in your house.
“We, on our own, had to cancel the event and it was well-taken and everybody went back from Abakaliki crying. Not weeping because we didn’t have food to eat but because we know that once Oyo is crying, the entire South-East is crying, not to talk of the leader in your person. You are very much loved in the South-East.
“We decided that these elders here should come to clean the tears of the Oyo State people. As you are weeping, we are also weeping. So, we are here to commiserate with you, and through you, with the people of Oyo State.
“It is going to be a very sad Christmas for us. The children that died; they are not just Ibadan people, they are Nigerians and we are Nigerians. So, we feel the pains just as much as you do. It will be a bad Christmas. If it is possible for the people of South-East to cancel Christmas, we would have done so.
“What has happened is unprecedented and I am happy that you are following it up as you have ordered that a thorough investigation be carried out. You have gone through a lot but with your sagacity and understanding of governance, God has been seeing you through.
“Generally, as Christians, when anything happens, whether good or bad, we give thanks to God. So, we want to, on behalf of the South-East PDP stakeholders, pray to God to grant you and the people of Oyo State, particularly the parents of the deceased, the fortitude to bear the loss.
“They are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow but unfortunately, this happened. God knows best,” Wabara added.
The governor also seized the opportunity of the visit to congratulate Chief SKE Udeokoye, who was affirmed as the National Secretary of the PDP by the Court of Appeal, last Friday as well as the new chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi State.
He advised the new PDP National Secretary to be firm and to provide leadership: “For the newly-minted PDP National Secretary, I wrote to the BOT that fair is fair and we also said we should respect whatever it is that the South-East would love to have.
“I am glad that the court has made its pronouncement. That is the last hope of the common man. Congratulations.
“We hope that you will be firm and provide leadership. Thank God that you have Senator Obi right by you. So, there won’t be any excuse that you are faced with difficulties and you couldn’t get the right advice.
“I also congratulate the new state chairman of Ebonyi State PDP,” Makinde stated in a release by his Special Adviser (Media), Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
