Palace fire: Oyo Governor visits Alaafin, pledges to rebuild palace

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Wednesday, paid a sympathy visit to the palace of the Oyo monarch, Lamidi Adeyemi, over the fire incident which gutted part of the edifice on Wednesday.

Mr. Ajimobi, who went with his entourage, was shown around what was left of the palace by the monarch.

The governor lamented the extent of damage caused to the ancient palace, describing it as colossal and irreversible.

'It is in our own definition a disaster, more so, having gone round the whole palace on inspection of the damage. The fire touched virtually everywhere and it was very devastating. It consumed virtually everything, including traditional attires, ornaments,' the governor said, after being conducted round the areas affected.

Blaming the devastation on failure to call the attention of fire fighters to the scene on time, the governor charged the fire fighters to be more dedicated and effective in their operations.

He also commended the monarch's household saying, 'that they were able to put out the fire is commendable'.

The governor, according to a statement from his media aide, Festus Adedayo, promised to assist the monarch in the reconstruction of the palace.

'As a foremost traditional ruler and a great friend of the administration, government could not but support the Kabiyesi because in doing so, government was supporting Yorubaland.

'As a government, we are going to support the Kabiyesi and the Kabiyesi, as you know, has been at the forefront of support for the present administration,' the governor said in the statement.