By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan Outer City zone of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, have expressed grief and sadness over the “high number of deaths” recorded in the stampede which happened in Ibadan at a Christmas funfair organised by some individuals last week, even as they called on relevant authorities to guide against any future recurrence.
At least 40 persons were reportedly killed in the melee.
The stakeholders, drawn from Akinyele, Egbeda, Ido, Lagelu, Oluyole and Ona-Ara Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, held their quarterly meeting at APC’s New Ife Road Secretariat in Egbeda LGA.
The meeting was attended by party leaders, stalwarts and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Hon. Aderemi Oseni, who is the lawmaker representing Ido/Ibarapa East constituency in the House of Representatives.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by a committee of leaders which included Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Chief Lekan Adeyemo, Alhaji Sule Suara and Bashorun Billy Ogundele, on Tuesday, 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.
It stated: “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. Governor 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 forum also sent a felicitation message to Alhaji Olayide Abas whose elevation from the status of Acting Chairman to substantive Chairman of APC in Oyo state was confirmed by the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, in Abuja last week, even as they restated their confidence in the ability of the new State Chair to succeed in the task of repositioning Oyo APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his address, Hon. Oseni explained some reasons behind the various economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu, assuring that the current hardship in the land would soon pave the way for abundance and prosperity to be enjoyed by all in the country.
He also used the avenue to give an account of his stewardship in the last 18 months, even as he received a thunderous ovation from the stakeholders in attendance on account of what they regarded as his sterling performance.
Prominent APC leaders who attended the meeting included Hon. Kunle Jenrade, Hon. Ibrahim Bolomope, Hon. Dauda Lawal, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye, Barrister Yemi Aderibigbe, Alhaji Bello Labankadi, Hon. Wahab Oladejo, Hon. Ambali Abiola, Alhaji Morufu Lamolo, Hon. Lasun Oguntade, Alhaji Yinka Folarin, Mrs. Esther Olaleke, and others.
