The Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Oluyole ahead of the April Local Government election in Oyo state, Akeem Olatunji and his counterpart from Lagelu Local Government, Hon Kamorudeen Mudashiru, and the Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, Honourable Ramata Agberemi Dabo, have visited the scene of the devastated Ibadan explosion.
The trio, who arrived the scene in company of other aides and party stalwarts yesterday, January 18, lamented the magnitude of damage caused by the explosion.
While commending Governor Seyi Makinde for his promptness in rising up to arrest the tragic blast and its aftermath, Olatunji expressed his commiserations to all the victims of the blast while sending condolences to families of those who lost their loved ones.
Recall that Governor Makinde arrived scene of the explosion on January 17 around 2a.m for an on the spot assessment after the explosion late January 16 and had immediately evacuated residents of the area to alternative shelters at different hotels while directing hospitals and medical facilities around the area to accept and commence treatment on all injured persons immediately and free of charge.
Olatunji said the governor’s approach to disaster management was earlier displayed during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic and now has demonstrated what a compassionate leader he is with an unrivalled passion for his people, justifying the mutual affection between the present administration and the masses.
While expressing his deep concern and calling for urgent support for the government’s recovery efforts, the former Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state called on Charity Organizations, NGOs, religious bodies to use their platforms to rally support for government in addressing the current situation.
“This disaster is better imagined by those not affected and we pray never to witness anything of such again in Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole because the explosion is really devastating to say the least. I want to appeal to all the religious bodies in Oyo state to rise up in support of Governor Seyi Makinde in arresting this situation.
“This has certainly imposed an unplanned financial and economic burden on the state government. Our religious organizations can not be silent and only talk about prayers alone at this time that material supports are urgently needed. The Governor has provided alternative accommodation to victims of the blast at different hotels while those in hospitals are getting adequate medical attention as well as the cost of search and rescue mission all at an unplanned costs.
“It is very clear that the victims need all of us at this point to regain stability and we can not abandon government to do everything alone because that is practically impossible. That is why we must show commitment to charity and humanitarian services at this point in order to help affected people regain stability.” Olatunji said.
Similarly, the duo of the PDP Chairmanship Candidate for Lagelu Local Government, Hon Kamorudeen Mudashiru, and ‘RAD’ as Honourable Ramata Agberemi is popularly called described the explosion as giving birth to unexpected humanitarian crises in the state and called on privileged individuals, private organizations to show their commitments to Corporate Social Responsibility by showing support towards government’s efforts.
While offering words of reassurances to victims of the explosion, RAD and Kamorudeen called for a holistic security investigation to unravel everything and everyone connected to the explosion
The duo suggested that collaboration between various stakeholders is crucial to ensuring timely aid distribution and long-term rehabilitation initiatives even as the search and rescue mission continues.
