I sent condolence message 24 hours after the explosion – Atiku replies Makinde

Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has countered the claim by Governor Seyi Makinde that he was yet to condole with the people of Oyo over the explosion that rocked the state.

The former Vice President’s media aide, Paul Ibe said his principal was not silent on the January 16 explosion that left scores injured and over 50 houses destroyed in Bodija area of Ibadan.

Makinde said on Monday that since the incident occured, Atiku, who is the leader of his party, PDP, had not reached out to him through call or text message.

He stated this when presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, paid him a condolence visit in the company of Aisha Yesufu.

The governor said; “Let me use this opportunity to thank former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, for the visit. I thank him because politics didn’t seep into this. You came here to commiserate with us over the explosion.

“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 own party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has not called or even sent a text message.”

But a statement by Atiku’s aide, Paul Ibe said the PDP presidential flagbearer commiserated with the people less than a day after the tragic incident.

He said; “With due respect to Governor Seyi Makinde, we wish to correct his expression about the response of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to the recent explosion in the city of Ibadan.

“Atiku Abubakar made a condolence message about the Ibadan explosion, less than 24 hours of its occurrence, where he shared his commiseration and empathy with the good people and government of Oyo State over the incident.

“Perhaps the Governor has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident. But we wish to put on record that on the 17th of January, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar did make a widely available message on the Ibadan incident.”