Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cancelled his birthday celebration in honour of the children who lost their lives in a stampede during a children funfair in Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor disclosed this on Friday in Ibadan while receiving the South-East delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
He described the incident, which claimed the lives of 35 children, as painful, unfortunate, and preventable and added that he would cancel his December 25th birthday celebrations and spend the day alone indoors.
“It is a day that is really sobering for me personally. Not only did I cancel the event in Ebonyi, I told everyone that I would stay indoors on my birthday. There is no party; I have sent the message out,” Makinde said.
“It has been a difficult year, really. Early in the year, we had the Bodija explosion. We managed through quite a bit. But we are strengthened by the show of support for us, to let us know that we are not alone in facing all of these.”
The governor expressed gratitude to the BOT chairman and other party leaders for their visit, noting they were the first to offer condolences over the unfortunate incident.
“So, on behalf of the government and the people of Oyo State, we want to appreciate you for coming to commiserate with us and to let us know we are not alone,” he said.
Those in the South-East PDP delegation also include a former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu; a former National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Ben Obi; a former National Woman Leader of the PDP, Iyom Josephine Anenih; new National Secretary of the PDP, Chief SKE Udeokoye; PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Ali Odefa; Chief Obasi Elebi and the Ebonyi State PDP chairman, Chief Onyema Nwele.