‘He shared condolence message 24hrs after Ibadan explosion’ — Atiku’s aide replies Makinde

Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, says his principal made a widely available message on the explosion that rocked Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

On January 16, an explosion occurred at Dejo Oyelese Street in the Bodija axis of Ibadan.

The state government put the death toll from the incident at five, while over 70 others sustained injuries. The blast also destroyed several houses.

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, had said the explosion was caused by illegal miners who stored explosives in one of the buildings.

The governor also said some “persons of interest” have been identified concerning the blast.

However, on Monday while receiving Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Makinde said Abubakar did not call him or send a message over the incident.

“I am particularly grateful. Out of the three musketeers who contested that election, the president had reached out to me, you have reached out to me but my own party’s candidate… not even a call or a text message,” Makinde said.

Reacting to the comment by the governor, Ibe, in a statement, said his principal made a condolence message on the incident less than 24 hours after it occurred.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

A check on the X page of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, has shown that the former vice-president condoled with the people and government of Oyo state, after the explosion.

Abubakar, in a post on his X page on January 17, offered condolences to the residents and government of Oyo state.

“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,” the former vice-president wrote.

“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.”