By Adeyinka Adeniran
Following insinuations of his relationship with key suspects facing trial on the Ibadan children funfair tragedy which resulted in the death of over 35 children, Governor Seyi Makinde has assured the people that the law would take its due course to prevent future occurrence.
The governor who said he has been reading reactions of people on the social media, particularly because of his closeness with the owner of the Ibadan based radio station, Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, maintained that it was obvious to him that many of such people don’t probably know the kind of person their governor is.
He spoke while receiving the Muslim Community of Oyo State, led by its leader, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Apparently reacting to the earlier request of the visitors to tamper justice with mercy on the Agidigbo boss, the governor noted that, even in tampering justice with mercy, the soul of the 35 innocent children that died also deserve justice.
Noting that the deaths were avoidable, the governor lamented that some of the dead children would have been great future leaders, but their dreams have been aborted.
He said if his child was part of those that died, he would be saying something totally differently, adding that no life is bigger than any other life as all humans are equal before God.
Makinde said “The incident at Islamic High School was avoidable and the loss of innocent lives was a sad one. Some of them would have been future leaders. Some could have been future presidents but the dreams are dead.
“And then, I listened to people on social media who were saying that because I know Oriyomi Hamzat, justice won’t prevail. I said to myself that these people don’t probably know the kind of person their governor is.
“When Prof. was talking, he said something about tempering justice with mercy. Yes, we will get to that but if my child was part of those that died, I would be saying something totally differently. And, no life is bigger than any other life, we are equal before God.
“It is easier for people to say I know some certain people and they should be treated as such. What about the 35 innocent souls that died, don’t they also deserve justice? That was why early this year, I signed off the rule of law enforcement authority. We want our systems to be working like that of developed world. Rule is rule; law is law. But for us, we don’t want to do those things and they are impeding our progress.
“Inasmuch as we’re are fair to everybody, it is fine. On my watch, whoever deserves justice will get it. And how do we ensure that this thing does not occur again? Those are the things we have to look into.”
