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The former Vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, through his aide, Paul Ibe has refuted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde's assertion that Atiku had not expressed condolences for the Ibadan explosion.
Gov. Makinde had made the assertion after the condolence visit by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to the Oyo state government house.
While addressing the assertion, Ibe clarified that Atiku had indeed extended condolences to the people of Oyo State within 24 hours of the incident. He pointed out that Atiku's message of commiseration and empathy had been widely disseminated.
Recall that there had been an explosion on the January 16 explosion in Old Bodija, Ibadan. The blast had claimed five lives, injured 77, and demolished 58 houses.
"While we respect Governor Seyi Makinde, we wish to correct his statement about the response of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to the recent explosion in the city of Ibadan," Ibe stated.
Atiku's media aide emphasized that the former vice president expressed his condolences promptly, and any misunderstanding may arise from the governor being occupied with other matters.
Makinde, during the condolence visit, had acknowledged messages from other political figures but noted the absence of communication from Atiku. He highlighted that even though President Bola Tinubu and others had reached out, Atiku had not called or sent a text message.
The incident prompted Ibe to clarify and set the record straight, underscoring Atiku's timely response to the tragedy.
In the same vein, Peter Obi, during his visit to Ibadan, conveyed condolences on behalf of Atiku and himself. He commended the government's swift response to the explosion and urged a reduction in the federal cost of governance as a crucial step to address the country's economic challenges. Obi emphasized the need to prioritize critical areas such as education, health, and poverty alleviation.
