The rift between Atiku Abubakar, a prominent 2023 Presidential candidate, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has caught the public’s eye, sparking widespread discussion. This discord came into the limelight following a tragic explosion in Ibadan on January 16th, which unfortunately led to loss of lives, injuries, and extensive property damage.
The incident, deeply affecting the residents of Ibadan, resulted in an outpouring of support and condolences from various political figures. However, Governor Makinde, in a meeting with Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, voiced a notable complaint. He expressed disappointment that Atiku, his party’s presidential candidate, seemed to have not reached out to offer condolences, unlike other leaders including the President.
In a candid statement during Obi’s visit, Makinde said, “I am particularly grateful because the musketeers that went for the presidential election have reached out to me. The president has called me, and you have reached out to me, but my party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has not called or even sent a text message. And I am saying it openly, so that our leaders will know that there is time for politics, you have a time for governance and you have a time for humanity. So, we want to say thank you so much, sir. We appreciate this visit.”
However, Atiku’s team was quick to respond to these claims. Paul Ibe, Media Aide to Atiku, asserted that the Presidential hopeful had indeed expressed his sympathy over the Ibadan explosion. According to Ibe, Atiku’s condolence message was made public less than a day after the unfortunate incident. The statement suggested that Governor Makinde, perhaps preoccupied with other matters, might have missed these reports.
“Atiku Abubakar made a condolence message about the Ibadan explosion, less than 24 hours after its occurrence, where he shared his commiseration and empathy with the good people and government of Oyo State over the incident,” Ibe clarified. This statement aimed to correct the impression that Atiku had been indifferent to the tragedy.
Further investigation by correspondents revealed that Atiku did indeed share his condolences through a post on his verified Facebook page on January 17th.
In his post, Atiku expressed his deep sorrow for the affected families and the government of Oyo State, emphasizing the need for ongoing humanitarian support for the victims.
As the political landscape unfolds, it serves as a reminder that in Nigeria, political tactics can often take center stage, even amid real human tragedies.
