Chieftains of the Kwara State Chapter of All Progressive Congress(APC), Alhaji Suleiman Buhari and Alhaji Taiwo Eleja have said that the stampede at Saraki’s house in Ilorin which claimed many lives should serve as another reminder to leaders to look inwards and ensure that helpless and vulnerable women and children are safeguarded from unnecessary deaths.

“The lessons the ruling elite in the state should draw from these happenings is that it is high time they started paying more attention to the welfare and well-being of Kwarans.

“There is an urgent need for a coordinated and conscientious policy to make the welfare and well-being of the masses the fulcrum of all government programmes in the state. This, we believe, is the best way to immortalise all those who have lost their lives in likely circumstances over the last two years.”

The two former Chairmen of defunct Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) and All Nigeria  Peoples Party(ANPP) in a statement made available to Journalists in Ilorin, noted  that the incident was avoidable if the plights and welfare of people were considered by the government in power.

“The All Progressives Congress (Kwara State) hereby expresses its shock and deep sorrow at the avoidable tragedy that occurred yesterday night at the notorious Ile Loke house of the Sarakis. We extend our heartfelt condolence to the families of the victims of the deceased while also praying for the speedy recovery of all those who sustained various degrees of injury that fateful night.

“We at the APC are shattered by the news of this unspeakable tragedy, especially at this time when the whole world is still in the Eid-Kabir festive mood.

“The grief occasioned by yet another disaster, is neither for the families of the deceased and the injured victims, nor the Saraki family alone but a grief of the whole state irrespective of socio-political affiliation. At a time like this, one can only draw strength from God, with the ultimate belief that He has a reason for everything.

“However, much as we must mourn the deceased, we should not let this situation pass by, without learning a lesson from it on the imperative of fashioning out practicable measures to the perennial but clearly avoidable incidences, which is coming less than a year to the previous one”, the statement added.