Ibadan children funfair tragedy: Ooni of Ife sympathises with families of victims
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has sympathised with families of those who died during the Wednesday children’s funfair organised by Women in Need of Guidance and Support(WINGS) owned by a former queen at the Ooni’s Palace, Ms Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi.
The funfair was organised in collaboration with Agidigbo Radio, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, in Ibadan.
Director, Media and Public Affairs, in Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare said the monarch shared in the grief and pains that had engulfed the affected families and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear these great losses st this time.
The statement equally extended heartfelt sympathy to the Oyo State Government and commended the Governor for his swift responsiveness, noting that the tragedy underscored the urgent need for collaborative efforts in ensuring safety and well-being of the children across Nigeria.
“The House of Oduduwa extends its heartfelt sympathy to the government of Oyo state, the organisers; Agidigbo Radio owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, the Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WINGS) owned by a former queen at the Ooni’s Palace; Ms Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi and the bereaved families of the young souls lost in the tragic incident in Ibadan yesterday.
“We share in the grief and pains that have engulfed the affected families. We pray that Olodumare grants them fortitude to bear this trying time”, the statement said.
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‘We also express our solidarity with the government of Oyo State as they navigate this difficult moment, especially Mr Governor’s commendable responsiveness. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and well-being of our children across Nigeria,” Olafare stated
The statement said that while as a queen in the palace, Ogunseyi demonstrated love and care to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December periods like this.
The statement emphasised that the House of Oduduwa pledged to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss, and called for immediate actions to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.
The Ooni emphasized the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions.
“While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers who have chosen to sensationalize the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity”, the statement added
The palace pointed out that dissemination of unverified and distorted information had only compounded the grief of the families and individuals directly affected and urged all media professionals to exercise restraint, compassion, and professionalism in reporting sensitive issues, as their narratives significantly influence public perception and healing processes.
“The House of Oduduwa encourages all stakeholders, from government officials to the media and citizens, to unite in compassion and constructive dialogue. Let us honour the memories of the departed by fostering a culture of care, respect, and accountability in our communities”, Ooni said.
“Rather than being discouraged by the sorrowful end of the event which was initially planned to show love for the children giving helping hands to their parents during this yuletide, Miss Naomi Silekunola, Mr Oriyomi Hamzat and their co-organisers should remain committed to doing such laudable programmes for the children but with better plans and strategies of execution in the future.
“Lesson must be learnt. May this sorrowful moment inspire a renewed commitment to protecting our children, preserving our shared humanity, and upholding the values of truth and empathy”, the statement added.
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