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By Oluseye Ojo
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has commiserated with people and government of Oyo State on the tragic explosion in parts of Ibadan, late Tuesday.
This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, yesterday, in Ilorin.
“On behalf of the people of Kwara, I send our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Oyo State on the tragic explosion in parts of Ibadan, late Tuesday. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the good people and government of Oyo State at this trying time. I commend my brother, Governor Seyi Makinde, and his team for the swift responses since the incident occurred. The incident, again, underlines the need for operators to adopt global best practices in mining operations and to prioritise safety at all times.
“The calls for objective probe are to unravel what truly happened, to forestall a repeat of such traumatic incidents. We stand by the government and people of Oyo State as they recover from the shock of this sad incident, and pray to Almighty God to forgive the dead and wish speedy recovery for those injured in the explosion,’’ he said.
Also, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has expressed its deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims and their families.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Ademola Babalola, and Secretary, Olusola Oladapo, the council lauded the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, for providing immediate assistance and relief to the affected families through provision of shelter for them in some hotels in the city.
As the voice of the media in Oyo State, the NUJ emphasised the importance of thorough investigations into the cause of the explosion. The union called on the government to ensure that those responsible for the tragedy are held accountable and that measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future. It said the safety and well-being of the residents of Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole should be a top priority.
“No stone should be left unturned to ensure justice and prevent future occurrence of this unfortunate but avoidable incident,” the statement read.
The NUJ encouraged journalists, whose houses were affected, to be strong, just as it urged media organisations to report on the incident responsibly, providing accurate and timely information to the public. The union also called for unity amongst journalists, urging them to support one another and collaborate in disseminating information that promotes safety, awareness, and community resilience.
In conclusion, the NUJ reiterated its heartfelt condolences to the victims and families affected by the Ibadan explosion.
“Together, as a community, we can overcome this tragedy, while working towards a safer and more secure environment for all. We have equally sent intelligence reports we garnered through our investigations to the governor and relevant security agencies to launch a manhunt on other suspected offices of the prime suspect and company linked to the unfortunate incident,” it said.
