Ibadan Explosion: Makinde Berates Atiku Over Silence

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has taken a swipe at former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for failing to commiserate with the state government, victims and their families over the recent explosion that rocked Bodija area of Ibadan.

Five residents were confirmed killed while propert worth millions of naira were destroyed in the incident.

Makinde, who criticised Atiku, when he received the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, who was on a condolence visit to him in his office, lambasted Atiku for what he called his lack of empathy.

The governor said it was “insensitive” for Atiku to not offer any condolences or even acknowledge the tragedy.

He said Atiku’s silence sends a troubling message about his character and judgment.

On the economic situation in the country and its effect on ordinary Nigerians, Makinde called for a cut in the cost of governance at the federal level as a necessary sacrifice to move the country forward.

He said, “All of us are now involved and all of us should work hard and make the necessary sacrifices to see that we turn around the situation and that is why it is necessary when things like what happened here occurred and the government responding in a manner it should respond and everybody comes to participate and commend them for doing the right thing.

“It is a matter of sacrifice, now elections are over, governance is the key thing and what is required for me, is to cut down on the cost of governance especially at the federal level, it is unacceptable the way it is going, we need to prioritize critical areas such as education, health and pulling people out of poverty.”

Makinde said, ‘’Of the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 election, President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of LP have reached out to commiserate with us and the people of Oyo state except Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.’’

In his remarks, Obi commiserated with Makinde and the people of Oyo State over the trajic event.

The former governor of Anambra State sent condolences to victims and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic blast, while praying to God to comfort the bereaved families.