It is almost two weeks since the tragic turn of events in Ibadan, with what was supposed to be a funfair for children turning to a nightmare, hours before it was scheduled to start, with the stampede that ensued leading to the unfortunate death of 35 children.
In the immediate aftermath of this unfortunate incident, there was palpable anger, with blame for the incident placed at the doorsteps of the organisers for what was seen as a poorly-managed event.
There is little doubt that the event organisers obviously underestimated the level of interest the programme would receive, which must have reinforced their efforts at according it publicity days before the event.
While some have argued that there was no way the venue would have been able to contain as many as 5000 children expected at the event, some of the people on the ground did indeed say that the stampede was not necessarily triggered by want of space, but rowdiness and disorder on the part of those present, in the rush to make it in.
Whatever it is, that the event didn’t have the benefit of proper planning, which would have envisaged possible risks (risk register) and put in place mitigation strategies, only speaks to our poor project (event) management skills, which has become a culture, despite different mishaps we have witnessed in the past.
That it has more to do with our culture of ‘anyhowness’ and rowdiness would be confirmed by the fact a few days after, we had a repeat of the unfortunate occurrence at Abuja and Okija, with many more lives lost in the cause of the ensuing stampede.
Perhaps for the fact that the Ibadan incident occurred first and it had to do with children, reaction was quite emotional, with much of the ‘anger’ directed at the organisers of the event, with people calling for their heads, and that there should be no sacred cows.
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That must have played a part in the prompt arrest of Naomi, the principal organiser, along with the Broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of the School which was to host the event. They have since been brought before a Magistrate Court and remanded in prison.
A really sad turn of events for someone who only set out to make Christmas merry for others to have had to spend Christmas in prison. I pray for Naomi. I pray for her to find the strength she needs at this time.
For some reason, the anger directed at the organisers of the events in Abuja and Okija appear rather muted compared to those who organised the Ibadan event. There are reports that the leaders of the Church in Abuja have been invited. Perhaps that is the case too with the Organiser of the Okija event and we only happen not to be aware that the organisers have been arrested.
On the face of it though, it is quite difficult to see even-handedness in the way the incidents have been handled by the police so far.
Mindful that everything is binary for many of us, and that once you speak for one, it is automatically assumed as speaking against the other, still I dare spare a thought for Naomi over this incident, knowing some might come ask about victims of the incident, as if it is not possible to sympathise with both.
I took time to listen to her broadcast a few days to the event. This was an event that had been held in different parts of the country, with Ibadan chosen for this year. Hers was simply a case of passion for providing much-needed love and support for the underprivileged, children in this case. It wasn’t as if she was even coming from a place of overwhelming affluence. It was more of a genuine love and wish to touch lives.
Of course, that doesn’t excuse shoddiness in preparation. But even as I have thought hard about what we know about the event so far, I still wonder if she or anyone could have envisaged, before that incident, that people would mass up at the venue as early as 5 a.m. for an event scheduled for 10 a.m. I wonder if the security, health and safety officials, if mobilised ahead, would have made it to the venue at 5 a.m.
This is one of the reasons I wonder at the nature of the charges slammed on Naomi and others: ‘acceleration of death’, ‘failure to provide adequate security/medical facility’, and ‘negligent acts causing harm’. I doubt, given the circumstances of this incident, to establish their culpability on these charges.
I have also wondered at the different things that have been written about the young lady. I wonder what her marriage or non-marriage to Ooni has to do with her predicament. She has been organising the event for years, and this incident might have happened even if she was still married. I can’t exactly place some of the conjectures that I have seen out there.
I see this as a rather sad and unfortunate incident. All that Naomi set out was to do good, which is not what we have too many people doing on that scale. That the event could have been better organised is not in doubt. But I would think that there is clearly enough blame to go round- from the organisers, Oyo State Government and even the Security Agencies, who, even if they hadn’t been informed ahead should, by virtue of their charge, be able to track a massing of people in a particular area, before it gets out of hand.
I can only imagine what must be going through the minds of Naomi and the others involved at this time. I pray for the families of the victims of the incidents at this time.
A really sad turn of events for someone who only set out to make Christmas merry for others to have had to spend Christmas in prison. I pray for Naomi. I pray for her to find the strength she needs at this time.
