• HURIWA condemns arrest of philanthropists
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, have commiserated with families and victims of the recent Ibadan Christmas Funfair Celebration at Basorun High School.
They also sympathised with traders over the fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Araromi auto spare parts market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan.
Adelabu, who expressed profound sadness over the two incidents in a statement by his Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, described both incidents as heart-wrenching.
The Minister described both incidents as a sad and unfortunate moment at the onset of the festive period, considering the number of children who lost their lives at the funfair celebration and the loss of goods and properties worth billions of naira in the inferno.
“I am deeply saddened by the incident that led to the death of these young children who are supposed to be the future of our country with a good future ahead of them. Waking up early this morning to also hear the sad news of the fire incident at the Araromi Spare Parts Market also cast a black shadow in what should have been a period of celebration.
“May the Almighty God console the parents of these minors and those who sustained losses in the fire incident”, he said. The minister urged the various stakeholders including the security agencies to learn from the sad incidents to prevent future occurrence. Adams on his part mourned the deceased children, just as he prayed that such sad omen will not occur in the country again.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Iba Adams said he is deeply saddened by the incident, praying that God comforts the families of the victims.
“I am deeply saddened to hear the story of how these innocent children, who left their homes with the excitement of enjoying a holiday funfair in Ibadan were trampled to death,” Iba Adams said.Adams expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and prayed that God grants peace to the souls of the dead.
MEANWHILE, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the recent arrests of philanthropists and organisers of charitable events in connection with tragic stampedes across the country.
The association described these arrests as unconstitutional, unjust, and a misrepresentation of the vital role philanthropists play in alleviating the suffering of Nigerians, particularly during these challenging times.
HURIWA through its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed dismay over the arrest of Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with seven others in connection with the stampede at Islamic High School, Ibadan, which reportedly claimed the lives of 35 children and left six others critically injured.
Similarly, the association criticised attempts to shift blame to the organisers of food distribution events, including the one held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, which resulted in 10 fatalities.
The group also highlighted the stampede that occurred in Okija, Anambra State, during a long-standing charitable initiative organised by Chief Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obi Jackson.
HURIWA noted that Obi Jackson has successfully organised this yearly philanthropic activity for over 15 years, providing essential supplies such as food items and financial assistance to thousands of people in need.
The association described the tragic incident as an unfortunate anomaly and not reflective of the meticulous planning and goodwill that have characterised Obi Jackson’s previous events.
The group emphasised that philanthropists and charitable organisations are rare in a country where over 133 million people live in multi-dimensional poverty.
It noted that individuals like Obi Jackson, Naomi Silekunola, and organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul dedicate their resources to addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, often at great personal cost.
Instead of vilifying such efforts, HURIWA said, Nigeria should celebrate and honour these rare acts of compassion. The association stressed that most charitable events are organised with pure intentions to alleviate the suffering of the deprived and vulnerable.
In the case of St. Vincent de Paul, the organisation has consistently extended help to individuals across all religious and ethnic backgrounds, including Muslims and people from other denominations.
Similarly, Obi Jackson’s sustained commitment to supporting his community for over a decade is a testament to his selflessness and dedication to alleviating poverty.
HURIWA criticised the arrests following these tragedies, calling them irrational and unjustified. It argued that criminalising philanthropists, especially individuals like Naomi Silekunola and Obi Jackson, who have consistently supported vulnerable populations through periodic charitable events, is counterproductive and detrimental to humanitarian efforts.
According to HURIWA, such individuals deserve national honors, not police investigations or public vilification. The association condemned the actions of the Oyo State Government for arresting Silekunola and called for her immediate release along with the others detained.
It described the arrests as a gross misplacement of priorities, stressing that the real culprits behind the desperation seen at these events are the systemic failures and the weaponisation of poverty by the government at all levels.
