In response to the recent remarks made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, claiming that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had not reached out or condoled with the government and people of Oyo State over the tragic January 16 explosion in the Old Bodija area of Ibadan, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, has clarified that his principal was not silent on the matter.
Governor Makinde made the comments during a condolence visit by former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Makinde expressed gratitude to Obi for his visit and criticized Atiku for not reaching out or sending a message of condolence. He emphasized the need for leaders to prioritize governance and humanity over politics.
In response, Atiku’s media aide stated that Atiku had indeed made a condolence message less than 24 hours after the explosion occurred. Ibe suggested that perhaps the governor had been too busy to keep track of media reports regarding Atiku’s message.
It is worth noting that Atiku blamed his defeat in the 2023 presidential election on the refusal of Makinde and four other PDP governors to support his ambition. Makinde and the other governors, known as the G-5 governors, instead supported President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the election.
During Peter Obi’s visit to Ibadan, he extended condolences to the bereaved families and those who lost property in the incident. He commended the government for its prompt response and called for a reduction in the cost of governance at the federal level, emphasizing the need to prioritize critical areas such as education, health, and poverty alleviation.
As investigations into the explosion continue, it has been revealed that it was caused by illegal miners storing explosives in a residential area, which is not designated for mining activities. Measures are being taken to address the lapses that allowed such an incident to occur.
In conclusion, while Governor Makinde criticized Atiku for not reaching out or sending a message of condolence, Atiku’s media aide clarified that Atiku had indeed expressed his commiseration and empathy for the people and government of Oyo State. The incident has highlighted the importance of prioritizing governance and humanity over politics, and there have been calls for a reduction in the cost of governance at the federal level to address the country’s economic challenges.