Ibadan Stampede: Mother of Ooni’s ex-wife, Ogunseyi pleads, seeks Tinubu’s intervention

Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, mother of the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, has called on government and well meaning-Nigerians to intervene in her daughter’s legal troubles.

It would be recalled that Olori Silekinola, Agidigbo FM proprietor, Oriyomi Hamzat and the principal of the school used as venue of the event were remanded in Agodi correctional centre by Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan over the tragic funfair stampede.

In a viral video on social media platforms, an emotional Ogunseyi pleaded for mercy, stating that her daughter’s intentions were purely humanitarian.

According to her, Naomi had organised numerous outreach programmes over the past decade to assist the needy, elderly, children, and pregnant women across Nigeria.

She lamented that her daughter’s goodwill had inadvertently led to the stampede and subsequent deaths.

She tearfully said “Have mercy on me. Mothers have mercy. Come to my rescue. Don’t let my life be destroyed. My child only came to Ibadan to help the needy; this was not her first time. We have travelled across the country helping children and the vulnerable. I sympathise with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention. Please, don’t let Naomi be imprisoned—she is innocent. She only came to show compassion,”

Mrs. Ogunseyi further revealed that Naomi, who was reportedly unwell, fainted during police interrogation and remains in custody despite her fragile health.

“The programme was meant to begin at 10 a.m., but people started arriving the day before. By 6:30 a.m., the crowd became uncontrollable. Naomi wasn’t even there yet. I received a call about the chaos while still asleep. My phone number was on the event flyer, so I was the one contacted. Naomi, her elder brother, and I immediately went to the police station to report the incident, but she was detained and later charged with murder,” Ogunseyi narrated.

In tears, Ogunseyi appealed to President Tinubu and other influential Nigerians to intervene. She claimed that her daughter’s predicament was orchestrated by “powerful persons.”

“They have taken my child to prison. The court was full of policemen. I don’t know where else to turn. They say her ordeal is an ‘order from above.’ Please, I beg those in power to release her. She is not a killer; she came to help. Naomi is fragile and sick. President Tinubu, I beg you, come to our aid,” she implored.

She also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased children, emphasising that the tragedy was unintended.