The palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also sympathised with the Oyo State Government, and organisers of the children’s party over the loss of lives.
In a statement signed by Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, and obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, the monarch also commiserated with Hamzat over the incident.
Olafare, who said Ooni’s palace shared in the grief and pains that the families of the deceased must be passing through, prayed for divine strength for them to bear the loss.
He noted that the tragedy had brought to the fore the urgent need for collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and well-being of children across Nigeria.
The palace commended the responsiveness of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to the development.
“While at the Ile Oodua here as a queen, Miss Naomi Silekuola Ogunseyi demonstrated love and care to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events, which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December, during periods like this.
“The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss.
“The House of Oduduwa calls for immediate action to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, emphasising the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions.
“While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers, who have chosen to sensationalise the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity.
“We urge all media practitioners to exercise restraint, compassion and professionalism in reporting sensitive issues, as their narratives significantly influence public perception and healing processes,” the statement added.
The palace urged the former queen and other organisers of the fanfare to remain committed to doing such laudable programmes for the children but with better plans and execution strategies in the future.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
