Wed, 8 Jan 2025

 

Ibadan Stampede: Queen Naomi, Others Must Be Prosecuted — Makinde
 
By: News Editor
Tue, 7 Jan 2025   ||   Nigeria,
 

Oyo State governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, has reaf­firmed his commitment to ensure that those responsi­ble for the tragic stampede during the December 18, 2024
Christmas funfair at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, will face trial, regardless of their status.
The organisers, includ­ing Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde, the Principal of Islamic High School, have been detained at Agodi Custodial Centre. ­
The sad incident claimed the lives of no fewer than 35 minors as confirmed by the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso.
In his address during the 2025 Annual Inter-Faith Service for state workers, on Monday, held at the sec­retariat in Ibadan, Gover­nor Makinde emphasised that the rule of law must be upheld in the state.
In addressing concerns raised by some individu­als regarding similar inci­dents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that did not lead to prosecutions, he firmly stated, “Even if nobody is held accountable else­where, in Oyo State, the rule of law will prevail.’’
He clarified that while he is not opposed to the court granting bail to the suspects, the judicial pro­cess must take its course, stressing that accountabil­ity is essential for deliver­ing justice to the victims and their families.
Reflecting on the chal­lenges faced in the past year, Makinde noted, “2024 started for us here in Oyo State almost on a tragic note. On January 16, 2024, we experienced an explo­sion in Bodija that impact­ed my office and resonated throughout Ibadan.
“Then, towards the end of the year, we faced the stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, which claimed 35 innocent lives. May we never witness such tragedy again in Oyo State.”
He addressed those questioning why Oyo State would pursue justice when other states had not, asserting, “Oyo State is not Anambra State, and no matter how highly placed, justice must be done.”

He reiterated that the judiciary will handle the matter, stating, “If you think you can grant bail pending trial, I have noth­ing against it. But the peo­ple must go on trial.”

The governor also ad­dressed the ongoing security challenges posed by ban­dits entering the state from North-Western region, as­suring residents that he will tirelessly work to eliminate all forms of insecurity.

He expressed gratitude to security commanders and operatives for their dedication to maintaining peace in the state.

“2024 has been challeng­ing in terms of safety and se­curity, with incidents of fire, armed robbery, and kidnap­pings. We will redouble our efforts in 2025 to tackle these issues,” he stated.

He mentioned a current special operation targeting wrongdoers relocating to the state and reassured cit­izens of the government’s commitment to addressing these threats.
Makinde urged citizens to report any suspicious activities to authorities, emphasising, “It is in our collective interest.”
He also announced that his administration would finalise discussions on reviewing pension remu­neration in light of the new minimum wage and consequential adjustments.
In her address of wel­come, the state Head of Ser­vice, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, commended the governor for his worker-friendly pol­icies and encouraged em­ployees to remain diligent in their duties.
Goodwill messages from various leaders, including the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, and state labour union repre­sentatives praised the gov­ernor for his initiatives to improve workers welfare and urged him to maintain this positive momentum.

 

 

Tag(s):
 
 
Back to News