Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has declared that justice must be served in the death of the 35 children in the December 11, 2024 Christmas funfair stampede in Ibadan, regardless of the closeness of the organisers to him.
Governor Makinde stated this in a viral video on social media, where he noted that no life is greater or important than another.
LEADERSHIP reports that 35 children died at a Christmas charity programme following a stampede that occurred at the Islamic High School venue of the funfair at Bashorun in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The event was spearheaded by a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Evang. Naomi Silekunola, in partnership with an Ibadan-based popular broadcaster and philanthropist, Oriyomi Hamzat.
Both Silekunola and Hamzat, alongside the principal of the school, have been remanded in Prison custody over the matter.
However, reacting to the development, Governor Makinde said: “Quite unfortunate, some innocent lives were lost, some of them future investors; future president or governors may be among them. And I listened to people saying Governor knows Oriyomi (Hamzat) and nothing will happen to them and I said to myself they probably don’t know who their governor is, because I’ve got so much pleadings to temper justice with mercy. But we’ll get to that point. If my own children were part of those that died, I would be saying something totally different and no life is bigger than any other life.”
Makinde cited a time when a life insurance policy was proposed and that it designated his life as more important than that of his car driver.
“The life of my driver, is it inferior to my own life for him to deserve regular policy and I a premium policy – when it is life and death? I did not approve the proposal, rather, I said if it’s the regular that everyone deserved, let it be for everyone. When it comes to life and even before God, we’re equal.
“It’s easier for people to say these are the people that you know, but what about the 35 persons that died? Don’t they also deserve some justice?”
Makinde, however, added that anyone found guilty would not be freed, and the innocent would not be condemned under his watch.
Speaking also on the controversial introduction of Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Oyo Town, Governor Makinde said he swore to protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and vowed to ensure the protection of the law.
