By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has attributed the stampedes in Anambra and Abuja to what he called the systemic failures that have become the lot of Nigeria.
Obi, who expressed sorrow and concer over the tragic incidents, noted that the stampedes highlighted the socio-economic challenges in Nigeria.
He made this known in his official X handle on Saturday.
Obi wrote, “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.
“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 also a former Anambra State governor appreciated the organisers of the events for their kind gestures in providing support to the needy, adding that they were not at fault.
“While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organisers 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 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,” he added.
Obi questioned the paradox of widespread hunger in a nation so abundantly blessed with resources.He wrote, “How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers? How is it possible that we cannot feed our citizens despite the vast, fertile lands our nation is endowed with? My heart bleeds.”
He also empathised with the states involved and the affected families, saying, “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.”
The New Diplomat had reported that no fewer than 10 individuals, including children, died in a stampede that occurred during a food distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja on Saturday.
Similarly, some yet-to-be-confirmed number of persons were feared dead following a stampede that occurred during the sharing of palliatives at the gate of the Obijackson Centre, in Okija, in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Saturday.
This incidents happened exactly 72 hours after the death of 35 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday.
