The Nigerian government has expressed condolences to the families of victims who lost their lives in recent stampedes in Anambra, Abuja, and Ibadan.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, cautioned against politicizing the incidents, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms are unrelated to the tragedies.
The stampedes occurred during the distribution of palliatives to vulnerable individuals, resulting in the loss of at least 39 lives. Idris emphasized the importance of proper crowd management during charitable activities, particularly during the festive season.
The Minister urged politicians and stakeholders to refrain from politicizing the incidents, highlighting that similar tragedies have occurred in the past, prior to the current administration. He also encouraged citizens to unite and ensure a peaceful and joyful Yuletide season.
He said,“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences havebeen recorded in the past, before the current administration, as such,making any attempt to link these tragedies to the President’s reforms isunfounded and disingenuous.”
In a statement by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government’s “anti-people policies” for the increased rate of poverty and hunger, leading to the stampedes. The PDP criticized the government’s handling of the economy, alleging mismanagement and corruption.
The statement partly reads: ‘’The PDP is devastated that the APC-led administration has wrecked our once thriving economy and pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into abject poverty and hunger with many citizens, not being able to afford their daily meals, now resorting to suicide and desperate measures including slavery mission abroad and fighting for crumbs for survival.
‘’It is heart-breaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to agonising life where they die struggling for food.
‘’This horrifying situation in the country further confirms the APC as a party of “political vampires and buccaneers” who have no iota of regard for human life but rather derive pleasure in the suffering and death of citizens including innocent children.
‘’Only this explains why the APC administration continues in arrogant false performance claims including empty assurances of food sufficiency while deliberately failing to make the required investments to boost the productive sector, particularly in agriculture and food production.’’
Investigations into the stampedes have commenced, with Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo promising to work closely with relevant agencies to determine the root causes of the incidents.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has also condoled with President Tinubu and the families of the victims, wishing those injured a speedy recovery. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the stampedes as tragic and called on Nigerians to support those affected.
