By Adeyinka Adeniran
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress APC in Ibadan outer city zone of Oyo state have expressed their grief and sadness over the high number of deaths recorded in a stampede which happened at a Christmas fanfare organised by some individuals last week even as they called on relevant authorities to guide against any recurrence in the future.
The stakeholders drawn from Akinyele, Egbeda, Ido, Lagelu, Oluyole and Ona-Ara local government councils held their quarterly meeting at the New Ife Road Secretariat of the APC in Egbeda local government area had in attendance party leaders, stalwarts and the Chairman, House Committee on FERMA, Honorable Aderemi Oseni, who is the lawmaker representing Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
In a Communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by a committee of leaders which included; Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Alh. Isiaka Alimi, Chief Lekan Adeyemo, Alhaji Sule Suara and Bashorun Billy Ogundele, the Forum lamented the circumstances surrounding the deaths of about 40 innocent children who were brought to the venue of the funfair in anticipation of being beneficiaries of Christmas/New Year gifts as widely advertised on an Ibadan-based private radio station.
“The number of children who died and those who sustained varying degrees of injury was quite alarming, regrettable and lamentable. As a matter of fact, there are more to the incident than what the public has been told by the state government. Gov. Seyi Makinde and some officials of his administration have made frantic but futile efforts to cover up on the clear cases of ineptitude, negligence and incompetence. Therefore, we demand justice for the victims and their families while the government should spare no effort to guarantee safety of lives and properties of the citizens at all times.
“The stakeholders also sent a felicitation message to Alhaji Olayide Abas whose elevation from the status of acting chairman to the substantive chairman of the APC in Oyo state was confirmed by the Party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullah Ganduje, in Abuja last week even as they restated their confidence in the ability of the new state chairman to succeed in the task of repositioning Oyo APC ahead of the 2027 general election.” The Communique stated.
In his own address, Hon. Oseni explained some reasons behind the various economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu while he assured that the current hardship in the land would soon pave the way for abundance and prosperity which would cut across all and sundry in the country. He also used the avenue to give an account of his stewardship in the last 18 months as he received a thunderous ovation from the stakeholders in attendance on account of his sterling performance.
Prominent APC leaders who attended the meeting included; Hon. Kunle Jenrade, Hon. Ibrahim Bolomope, Hon. Dauda Lawal, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye, Barr. Yemi Aderibigbe, Alh. Bello Labankadi, Hon. Wahab Oladejo, Hon. Ambali Abiola, Alh. Morufu Lamolo, Hon. Lasun Oguntade, Alh. Yinka Folarin, Mrs. Esther Olaleke among others.
