By Ogungbemi Orimisan
Every sane human being, especially parents who understand the beautifully painful journey of bringing forth the future hopes of both family and society, will empathize deeply with the loss of 35 children in the recent Ibadan stampede. This tragedy occurred during an event organized by Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi and Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat of Agidigbo FM, who intended to treat 5,000 children to a Christmas party, providing palliatives to alleviate the suffering in the community. This was not the first time such a humanitarian outreach had been held.
Similarly, only those suffering from unhealed wounds would condemn the stance of the Oyo State Government under our amiable leader, a thoroughly bred “Ọmọlúwàbí,” and one of the rare political leaders in the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole: Engineer Seyi Makinde.
Beyond his role as the current occupant of the Agodi Government House, Governor Seyi Makinde is first and foremost a child of parents, whether living or deceased. He is also a parent, a humanist, a community leader, and a lover of humanity—especially children, according to independent investigations—before taking on the responsibilities of a Governor who is charged with the protection of lives and property in Oyo State. His unwavering stance on the globally recognized issue of infanticide should be understood by all who have blood running through their veins.
While similar tragedies may have occurred in far-off places like Anambra and Abuja without those in charge providing support to the grieving parents, the Oyo State Government’s pursuit of a thorough investigation into this case reflects a responsible approach from a leader committed to safeguarding the sanctity of life.
That said, the intention or motive behind a perceived crime against humanity must be taken into consideration in matters of law.
Queen Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi, a renowned philanthropist even before her marriage to the supreme custodian of the Yoruba Royal Dynasty, HRM Oba Ogunwusi Enitan, The Oonirisa, the Ooni of Ife, has a history of uplifting people from despair. It is unfortunate that last year’s event took such a tragic turn.
In truth, the lives of those glorious departed souls are invaluable, far exceeding anything that can be quantified. Tragically, their dreams were cut short in their prime.
In this light, I appeal to the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to allow the law to take its course based on the evidence available to the court, without letting emotions or potential personal grievances interfere with the proceedings. We cannot speculate on whether Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat is on favorable terms with the Governor, nor should we assume that Queen Naomi is bearing the brunt of any perceived tension between the Governor and the Ooni of Ife. Regardless, any rational individual should recognize the importance of setting aside emotions and allowing the law to assess the motives and processes involved in this regrettable and avoidable national calamity.
Clearly, no amount of compensation can truly equate to the value of lives lost. However, the “Angels of Humanity” (unless proven otherwise) should be judged for their intentions rather than the outcomes of their actions. Reports suggest that Queen Naomi reached out to the relevant authorities prior to the event’s commencement.
Ogungbemi Orimisan writes from Akure.
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