Ibadan explosion: Diaspora group commends Gov. Makinde's promptness, citizen-centric governance approach

A group of Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora, the Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID), has commended Governor Seyi Makinde's promptness and citizen-centric governance approach towards the Ibadan explosion.

The group also urged the Governor to reinforce the implementation and expansion of Closed-Circuit Televisions (CCTV) at every public and strategic locations to detect crimes and help prevent any unlawful practices in the State.

According to a statement released by the group’s spokesperson, Barrister Ayotomiwa Adebayo, OID expressed its solidarity and commiseration with Governor Makinde and the good people of Oyo State over the recent incident that occurred in Bodija, Ibadan.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and we wish the survivors a speedy recovery.

“We acknowledged Governor Makinde’s transformational leadership role, as he rapidly responded to the heartbreak explosion by a visit to the site of the incident, directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators for justice, and invited various stakeholders around a common goal, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mining, and Geosciences Society, to conduct detailed structural integrity tests of the entire location, as his administration and everyone else have a responsibility to learn from the incident and to draw from those lessons to ensure citizens’ safety and security," the release stated.

The diaspora group described Governor Makinde as a man of action who always acts in the best interest of the citizens according to his values and beliefs.

"He makes tough decisions, and his ethical conduct for public trust during the Bodija explosion indicates he possessed the integrity and leadership qualities required to govern and restore hope. We commend him for signing into law an Executive Order on the Safe Handling and Storage of Harmful Substances within Oyo State, aimed at protecting the lives and property of every citizen," the release noted.

OID further commended the Governor Makinde-led administration for its promise to support every one whose properties were affected to rebuild their lives and offset victims’ medical bills, despite the current global economic challenges.

The group also applauded the teamwork of the Red Cross, security agencies, emergency management teams, and search and rescue operatives for the heroic work and immediate assistance rendered to the affected and displaced persons.

"We call on the good people of Oyo State to be vigilant and work closely with the law enforcement agencies to prevent such unexpected misfortune and avoidable incident from recurring within the community," the release stressed.

Barrister Adebayo also affirmed that Governor Makinde’s swift response through effective communication helped to restore citizens’ trust and dignity to good governance in the State.

"Governor Makinde’s message on security is that everyone’s civic duty is crucial: 'if you see something, say something, and the authorities will do something'. His uniqueness and unwavering commitment as a doer to restore hope and protect the lives and property of the citizens in Oyo State make him an excellent role model for good governance,” the release stated.