Ibadan Stampede: Abiodun visits Ibadan, calls for NGOs’ collaboration with Govt in palliative distribution
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has urged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charitable groups, and individuals planning to distribute palliative aid to collaborate with the government to avoid chaotic situations that could lead to loss of life.
Speaking during a visit to Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, in Ibadan, following the tragic stampede that occurred in the city last week, Governor Abiodun stressed that the incident could have been prevented if the state government had been involved.
He expressed his condolences on behalf of himself, the Ogun State government, and the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) to the people of Oyo State, saying, “I am here on behalf of myself, the government, and the good people of Ogun State and the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) to commiserate with the governor of Oyo State and the people on the unfortunate incident that happened on Wednesday, December 18th, where a good initiative turned sour.”
“It is most unfortunate that, in response to the current realities, an NGO decided to share the joy of the season with the children, which led to the loss of 35 lives,” Governor Abiodun continued. “I think that we’ve seen this trend in Anambra and Abuja during this yuletide period.”
He emphasised that, “When private sector players, non-governmental organisations, and charities want to embark on such initiatives, they should try to work with the government. Because as a responsible government, we carry out such initiatives, and it doesn’t end like this because we have people who are charged with such responsibilities.”
Governor Abiodun further explained, “They planned it to ensure that it is well implemented. So, one must admonish others who have such initiatives that a lot of lessons must be learned from what has happened, and we must ensure that we avoid such mishaps in the future.”
He stated that the Southern Governors’ Forum is pained by the loss, and as the Chairman of the Forum, his visit was to condole with Oyo State, adding, “As a neighbour, anything that affects them affects Ogun State.”
He also prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and for the families to bear the loss, wishing the people of Oyo State a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
In response, Governor Makinde thanked his Ogun State counterpart for the visit, stating, “This visit provides an opportunity for the cross-fertilisation of ideas that would benefit the two sister states.”
He mentioned that the two states would meet next year for a Peer Review to see what they could learn from each other and leverage it.
