According to the party, the explosion transformed part of Ibadan city into a scene reminiscent of Gaza.
The African Action Congress (AAC) has maintained its stance on Tuesday’s explosion that rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
According to the party, the explosion transformed part of Ibadan city into a scene reminiscent of Gaza.
Governor Seyi Makinde had said preliminary investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by explosives stored by illegal miners occupying a house in the Bodija area of the city.
Giving an update on the casualty figure on Wednesday evening, the governor said three people had been killed and that 60 out of nearly 80 injured persons in hospitals had been discharged.
However, the AAC in a statement signed by its Oyo Chair, Kayode Babayomi, said there is more to the incident than what the state government has been feeding the public.
He said, “Upon our visit to the incident site, we uncovered irregularities in the state's narrative, claiming it was a dynamite blast.
“This assertion, we believe, is a fabrication and conceals the true nature of the incident. It is crucial to identify the building owner, the mining company involved, and establish the facts. Unfortunately, Governor Makinde seems more focused on a cover-up than on determining the cause and implementing preventive measures for future incidents.
“We urge the state government to transparently provide the public and the people of Oyo with the actual cause, building owner, and details of the mining company within the next 48 hours. The conflicting statements released by the government during the early stages of the incident have left the public in a state of confusion.
“Our condolences go out to the victims and the people of Oyo state during this challenging period. We believe that by working together, we can overcome this adversity. The AAC commits to assisting those affected when appropriate and ensuring that the government fulfills its responsibilities.”
“Additionally, we call for the swift arrest of the perpetrators behind this tragic incident,” he added.
Fatai Owoseni, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, said the explosion was not caused by terrorists.
He said the area of the incident had been secured to ensure that hoodlums did not perpetrate crimes as a result of the explosion.
Owoseni said this during a press conference on the incident, held at the Briefing Room of the Governor's Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Wednesday.
He described such accounts as misinformation, saying: "We want to use this opportunity to correct misgivings. People have come out to say that Boko Haram elements have been allowed to invade Oyo State, especially Ibadan. This is incorrect.
"Some people have also said a helicopter flew over the place and dropped the bomb. That is, in its entirety, incorrect too. People have said construction sites around that place had used dynamite, and in the course of that, the incident happened. Let me say it is also not correct.
"We, from the security angle, can say that the preliminary evidence is indicative that for some time, people must have been storing explosives in that area, and it is not just fresh. It must have been something that had accumulated for some time. His Excellency has always said if you see something, you must say something."