•As Ogun Governor Condoles Over Ibadan Stampede
From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced plans for his administration to collaborate with Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on initiatives that benefit residents of both states. The governors are set to hold a peer-review meeting in the New Year, focusing on areas such as agriculture, particularly the tractorisation policy, and other developmental opportunities.
Governor Makinde made this statement on Monday while receiving Governor Abiodun in Ibadan. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the strengths of both states for mutual progress. “We were discussing the tractorisation strategy Ogun State has adopted and comparing it with what we’re doing here in Oyo. We agreed to hold a peer-review session in the New Year to exchange ideas and collaborate on areas of mutual benefit,” Makinde said.
Makinde also expressed gratitude to Governor Abiodun, who visited to commiserate with Oyo State following the tragic stampede at a private funfair in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children.
Governor Abiodun, who also chairs the South-West Governors’ Forum, conveyed his condolences on behalf of the people of Ogun State and the Southern Governors’ Forum. He described the incident as a tragic turn of events from an otherwise well-intentioned initiative and urged better collaboration between non-governmental organizations and the government to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate event. On behalf of my family, the people of Ogun State, and the entire Southern Governors’ Forum, I express our heartfelt condolences. Our prayer is that Oyo State and indeed Nigeria will not witness such a tragedy again,” Abiodun said.
The Ogun State governor also prayed for the souls of the deceased children and their grieving families, reiterating the bond between the two neighboring states. “What affects Oyo State affects Ogun as well,” he noted.
Both governors emphasized the need for shared strategies and mutual support to address critical challenges and promote development in the South-West region.