Last night, I read a very sad story where it was claimed that the deaths from the Bashorun stampede had risen to 40 and I fervently pray that we will count no more.
This is one disaster too much for anyone with a conscience to bear.
No matter how hard things are, if you have your loved ones around for the yuletide, safe and sound, you would still consider yourself lucky and shout happy New year as December 31st winds up and usher you into the first day of the New year, even if you and your family enters the New year on empty stomachs.
The families of those little children who have been cruelly taken away as a result of the stampede will surely have nothing to celebrate for both Christmas and the New year.
They would surely be filled with pain, anguish and regrets.
My heart goes out to them and I pray that the only One, God Almighty,who is capable of giving them succour at this very terrible moment shall surely give them peace that is beyond human capacities.
I also read a story yesterday where it was said that Governor Makinde has cancelled his 57th birthday celebration as a result of the unfortunate incident.
I have my opinion about that but I will swallow my thoughts on that out of respect for the dead and say that the Governor did well, but it is not enough at all.
At this point, the paramount thing and the burden which is heavily placed on the shoulders of Governor Makinde is the issue of how to prevent such ugly occurrence in the future.
For me, the best way to do that is to ensure that this matter is well investigated and every culprits, no matter how highly placed or whatever relationship they share with the Governor are properly brought to book.
That is the only way to honor the memories of those innocent children and prevent future disasters.
I said yesterday that I have been following the issues around the incident as they keep unfolding and I will continue to do so until justice is served on this matter.
We have condole enough. Let us ask for Justice and like I said, there is a very big burden on the Governor of Oyo state, most especially, because of the relationship between him and Oriyomi Hazmat, the stories that have been flying around the gentleman and the fact that we have not heard that he has been invited for questioning by the Police.
Yes. He is said to be on the Hospital bed. I wish him very quick recovery and as he recovers, he has so much to explain.
From the contents of the series of voice notes flying around on social media, he does have so much to say about this incident.
I have not seen or heard that he denied the contents of the voice notes till today.
Now, there is one of them where his voice was heard saying that he provided 200 extra support for security reasons.
He also said that he monitored those who were preparing food for the occasion.
Those were not Media responsibilities. So, the idea that his Media outfit was engaged as Media Partners have been defeated by those statements.
If the statements are true, then, Oriyomi Hazmat is not just a Media partner for the program. His involvement went beyond Media partnership.
There is also another story flying around that the gates to the venue were ordered to be opened by 6:20 am and immediately the instruction was carried out, a stampede ensued which resulted in the terrible situation we have in our hands.
Who gave that instruction?
He was also said to have been in charge of tickets and was alleged to be the one who asked people to arrive by 6am.
Oriyomi Hazmat must get up from from his sick bed as soon as yesterday and Governor Makinde must know that he is been watched carefully on this matter.
This is beyond the award of some shoddy contracts.
Lives are involved and those lives are not that Turkey or ” Raago”. They are innocent young children who could have become Governors and presidents tomorrow.
I do not care about the relationship between him and Hazmat. The man has said it several times that he is a stakeholder in Governor Makinde’s Government, whatever that means.
However, the hospital bed can not be an excuse on this matter.
Despite him being in the hospital, we kept seeing voice notes of his interviews.
When were the interviews granted?
I will like to challenge Media practitioners on this issue.
Do your due diligence without fear or favor please.
As a society, we owe that duty to the departed children, their parents and loved ones.
More than that, we owe a duty to our conscience.
The whole world is watching us. Let us prove to them that we are capable of doing what is right.
As I write this piece, a prediction I made about the 12 hapless Mechanics who were arrested and charged to court for Treason and other allegations has come to pass.
While those people are wallowing in detention, their shops have been demolished by Agents of Governor Makinde’s Government.
I knew it would happen.
Now, the Governor must pursue the case of the Funfair tragedy with equal vigour.
Not minding the fact that the Mechanics are clamped in detention and the pains their loved ones are going through as a result of that, the Governor went ahead to demolish their shops – the subject matter of the controversy.
Those Mechanics have been in detention and will be there for the Christmas and the New year celebration just because they overreacted.
I have no issues since it does appear that the Governor have no problems with his conscience keeping them there while demolishing their shops.
I will only have a big problem with Governor Makinde if he falters in deploying equal venom to pursue justice for the little children who died at Bashorun.
His determination and sincerity are now at test and the whole world is watching.
I do not care whatever name the Governor’s attack dogs will give me on this matter.
I will gladly accept and embrace those names so far as the Governor does the needful of ensuring that justice is not only done but it is seen to have been done.
Both Governor Makinde and the self acclaimed stakeholder in his Government must show the whole world that the issues arising from the disaster at Bashorun harbor no sacred cows.
Like I said yesterday, the whole world knows what Oriyomi Hazmat would have been doing by now if he is not connected with this incident.
I am sure he would have been mounting serious pressures on the police and exposing individuals he suspected to be connected with the incident.
Now that the shoes are in his feet, we will assist him to do that job while he clears himself of suspicion.
We owe him that.
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