Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed profound grief over the tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children during a private funfair in Ibadan last December. The event, organized by Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has garnered significant attention, particularly following her subsequent detention in connection with the incident.
In an interview, Governor Makinde reflected on the devastating loss, emphasizing that these children symbolized the nation’s future. He lamented the unrealized potential of the young lives lost, stating, “Some of those children had the potential to become presidents, ministers, governors, and other influential figures, but those aspirations are now extinguished.”
He further stated, “When I see the faces of those children, I feel it would have been better if some of us had left this world instead, as many of us have already accomplished a lot. Among them were future leaders and innovators, and now those dreams have vanished. Given the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, I have decided that celebrating my birthday this year (2024) will not be appropriate as we are deeply mourning. This situation is truly heartbreaking.”
Discussing the preventable nature of the tragedy, Makinde noted, “This could have been avoided. The organizers failed to implement essential crowd control measures and did not communicate with security agencies. There was no adequate planning. By the time I received a message from the Commissioner for Health and the Chairman of the Hospital Management Board, it was already too late, as the bodies of the children were already being taken to the mortuary. It is incredibly unfortunate, and we must learn from this.”
The governor also highlighted other recent incidents that led to unnecessary loss of life, recalling an explosion in Bodija on January 16, 2024, caused by the improper storage of explosives in a residential area. He urged residents to report such dangers, stating, “We have emphasized that if you see something, say something, and we must hold authorities accountable if no action is taken. Just weeks after the Bodija explosion, we faced another tragedy with the stampede.”
