Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has countered the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who alleged on Monday that Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), was yet to commiserate with the people and the state government over the Ibadan explosion.
Atiku belongs to the same political party with Makinde, he did not however enjoy the support of the governor and his colleagues of Rivers, Benue and Enugu States during the election.
On 16th January, an explosion occurred in Ibadan, resulting in fatalities, numerous injuries, and significant damage to properties valued in millions of Naira.
While hosting the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Makinde lamented that, unlike others, Atiku had not called or sent a message to commiserate with the people of the state regarding the explosion in Ibadan.
Makinde said: “I am particularly grateful because the musketeers that went for the presidential election have reached out to me. The President has called me, and you (Makinde) have reached out to me, but my party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has not called or even sent a text message.
“And I am saying it openly, so that our leaders will know that there is time for politics, you have a time for governance and you have a time for humanity. So, we want to say thank you so much, sir. We appreciate this visit”.
In a statement on Monday, Atiku’s media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe clarified that his principal commiserated with the victims, people, and the state government. He added that Makinde might have been too busy to keep track of media reports on the incident.
The statement read: “With due respect to Governor Seyi Makinde, we wish to correct his expression about the response of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to the recent explosion in the city of Ibadan.
“Atiku Abubakar made a condolence message about the Ibadan explosion, less than 24 hours after its occurrence, where he shared his commiseration and empathy with the good people and government of Oyo State over the incident.
“Perhaps the Governor has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident. But we wish to put on record that on the 17th of January, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar did make a widely available message on the Ibadan incident”.
Indeed, on 17th January, Atiku expressed condolences through his verified Facebook page to the people and government of Oyo State concerning the blast.
In his Facebook, he said: “I wish to express my condolences to the good people and government of Oyo State over the explosion that rocked the capital city of Ibadan late yesterday night.
“While the government continues to provide humanitarian support to victims of the explosion, I commiserate with the families of those who might have lost their lives and property to the explosion”.
