Stampede: Stop politicising tragedies, Presidency tells Peter Obi

The Presidency yesterday criticised former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, over his comments on the recent tragic stampedes that claimed lives, including those of children, in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja.

This is coming as the LP yesterday insisted that the unfortunate food stampedes across the country, were clear evidence of the hunger epidemic that has descended on the nation.

This is even as the All Progressives Congress, APC, kicked back at criticism by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying stampedes also took place under their watch.

Reacting to the tragedies in tweets on X, Obi had described the stampedes as systemic failures plaguing Nigeria and expressed concern that despite the nation’s abundant resources and fertile land, citizens are dying of hunger.

In response to Obi’s tweets, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, said Obi was simply politicising the tragedies to achieve cheap points.

According to Dare via his X handle, Obi’s remarks are indecent.

He wrote: “When seeking someone who benefits from the misfortune of others or from confusion — what the Yoruba people describe as Aríje nínú Màdàrú — look no further than Peter Obi.

“His recent comments on the avoidable tragedies in Anambra and Oyo states lack statesmanship and decency, even as he clings to the fading echoes of his much-vaunted political victory. This attempt to score cheap political points falls flat.

“In times of unfortunate tragedy, leaders are expected to speak responsibly and offer support. President Tinubu cancelled all engagements, expressed profound sadness over the loss of lives, and ordered an immediate investigation.

‘’That is the way of true leadership. These incidents have highlighted critical issues that must be addressed.”

– Labour Party attributes food stampedes to Nigeria’s hunger epidemic

Meanwhile, the Labour Party, LP, has insisted that the unfortunate incidents of food stampedes across Nigeria is evidence of the hunger epidemic that has descended on the nation.

Speaking on the issue, National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk said: “It is only poverty that made some Nigeria to go scooping fuel from accident scenes resulting to inferno which brought about hundreds of casualties. These happened on several occasions in the last one year.

“Also, the National Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that more than 2 million people have been kidnapped in Nigeria in the last one year and that Nigerians paid a cumulative $1.42 billion to kidnappers within the same period.

“One major reason why people resort to crime is due to hunger. Nigerians in their millions have been subjected to hunger arising from other reasons such as rising inflation and poor economic management.

“The economic reforms of the Tinubu administration have caused untold hardship to Nigerians. Hunger is turning into an epidemic and not many people can survive this situation. We are therefore calling on the government to scale down most of its agenda in 2025 and redirect its policies towards food production.

Stampede also happened under your watch, APC tells PDP

The APC yesterday hit back at PDP over the latter’s position on the wave of recent deaths recorded due to stampedes at palliatives distribution sites.

APC spokesman, Felix Morka, in a statement, said Nigerians had not forgotten the ill-fated 2014 recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, which led to the death of some desperate job seekers.

He said: “Rather than genuinely commiserate with the victims and their families, the PDP chose to politicize the grief of the victims by blaming the stampedes on the All Progressives Congress APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The tragedies have brought together all well-meaning Nigerians in mourning and sober reflection on how the incidents might have been avoided through better planning and organization by all involved. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families.

“It is grossly indecent, insensitive and despicable for the PDP to exploit these tragic incidents in a senseless attack against the administration that has devoted itself to fixing the ruins of nearly two decades of PDP administration. Nigerians have not forgotten the tragic stampede at the ill-fated Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise in 2014 at the Abuja stadium, under the watch of the PDP administration, that left many desperate job seekers dead and scores injured. The PDP’s allegations only remind us of its sordid record of maladministration and utter incompetence.”

Jonathan seeks support for victims

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for support for the victims of the tragic stampedes.

In his Christmas message issued yesterday in Abuja, Jonathan also urged authorities to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

He said: “The unfortunate incidents have left all of us in shock and sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who have lost their loved ones and with those who have been injured.

“I urge the authorities to provide the necessary support to the victims and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.

“As we navigate through this painful period, I encourage all Nigerians to show compassion and solidarity, especially during this festive season.”

Foundation cancels planned children Christmas party

The chairman of Obijackson Foundation, Chief Ernest Obiejesi has cancelled the much publicized children’s get together planned for this Christmas in Okija.

It was gathered yesterday that many philanthropists in Anambra State, who usually fete their communities, have also put their programmes on hold.

A statement from Obijackson Foundation read: “Due to the heartbreaking events on Saturday surrounding the rice-sharing tragedy, the Obijackson Foundation has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Christmas celebration for Okija children.

“Our thoughts are with those affected and we believe it is vital to prioritize healing and support for the community at this time. We look forward to connecting our work for the well-being of Okija in the new year.”