Following the deadly explosion in Ibadan Tuesday night, which caused massive destruction and fatalities, some residents of Bodija area of the ancient city, where the incident happened, have sought immediate humanitarian response from the federal government.
The residents, including youths and women most whose small scale businesses were destroyed by the explosion, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to recall the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr.Betta Edu, to office.
The said if she was in office, she would have visited them in less than 24-hours to empathise with and and bring succour to them on behalf of the federal government.
One of them, Mrs Modinat Ojulari, whose kiosk and grinding machine were destroyed in the explosion, lamented her loss, asking for government’s assistance.
Ojulari, who said the grinding machine was given to her by Dr Betta Edu as APC National Women Leader during the pre-presidential Campaign in Ibadan, appealed to President Tinubu to forgive Edu on behalf of downtrodden and poor Nigerians.
Kafayat Alabelewe from Agodi said: “Though I have not seen or met that woman Asiwaju suspended from office before, but I have been hearing in the news how she helps the poor and people who suffer the kind of loss I have suffered because of this explosion. I’m sure if she was in office, she would have immediately rushed here to console us and bring us relief items from Asiwaju.”
“My entire means of livelihood is gone. Where do I start from? I beg President Tinubu, the Asiwaju to bring Edu back so that she can come and help us,” Mrs Alabelewe, an unemployed NCE holder, said amid sobs.
On his part, 26 year old Waisu Ogunmola, whose carpentry workshop was destroyed, said he lost all finished work belonging to his clients together with his work tools.
“My life is finished. Who will help me? We want the federal government to come to our aid. President Tinubu should please, quickly pardon the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and restore her to office and then send her to come to our aid. She has done it for other people before. Our own should not be different,” Ogunlesi who claimed he holds Ordinary National Diploma, pleaded.
