Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has attributed recent deaths from stampedes and the scramble for food to what he calls “systemic failures” in Nigeria.
He emphasized that the harsh economic conditions have forced Nigerians into desperate situations, leading them to risk their lives in a quest for food.
The former Anambra State governor was responding to the tragic loss of at least 10 lives during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, where victims were scrambling for palliative food supplies.
This incident occurred shortly after another stampede claimed the lives of 35 children in Oyo State.
In a post on his X handle, Obi expressed his grief and stated, “I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food. A few days ago, about 35 people, mostly children, lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State.”
He added, “This morning, reports emerged of at least 10 people losing their lives in Abuja while scrambling for palliatives, with many others injured.
Now, I just heard that about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items.”
Obi acknowledged the good intentions of those organizing food distribution efforts, noting, “While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organizers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.”
The former governor questioned the state of Nigeria’s economy, stating, “The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives. How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers?”
Obi concluded his message by offering condolences to the victims’ families, writing, “My heart bleeds. One can only imagine the pain their families are enduring at this moment. My heart goes out to them.
I sincerely commiserate with all the affected families and the good people of Oyo, Anambra, and the FCT over these tragic incidents. May God grant them, and all of us, the strength to bear these painful losses. May God Almighty grant the departed souls eternal rest, and may the injured recover swiftly.”
