“No Life Greater Than Another” – Gov. Makinde On Christmas Stampede Deaths
Oyo State governor Engr. Seyi Makinde declared that justice will be served in the tragic deaths of 35 children who perished in a stampede at a Christmas charity event on December 11, 2024.
The governor emphasized that the closeness of the event organizers to him will not impact the pursuit of justice.
“No life is greater or more important than another,” Makinde stated firmly in the video. “If my own children were part of those that died, I would be saying something totally different.”
The deadly stampede occurred at the Islamic High School venue in Ibadan during a Christmas funfair organized by Evang. Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Oriyomi Hamzat, a popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and philanthropist. Silekunola, Hamzat, and the school principal have since been remanded in prison custody.
Responding to pleas for him to “temper justice with mercy” due to his relationship with Hamzat, Makinde said “When it comes to life and even before God, we’re equal. It’s easier for people to say these are the people that you know, but what about the 35 persons that died? Don’t they also deserve some justice?”
The governor vowed that anyone found guilty would face consequences while the innocent would not be wrongfully condemned.
Makinde also addressed the controversial introduction of a Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Oyo Town, stating that he swore an oath to protect the constitution and will uphold the rule of law.
