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HomeNIGERIATragic rice stampedes: PDP, Obi, Falana, others slam FG, APC

Tragic rice stampedes: PDP, Obi, Falana, others slam FG, APC

By Sarah NEGEDU

As citizens continue to reel from the tragic palliatives’ stampedes in some parts of the country, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 polls, Mr. Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, have blamed the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, for the biting poverty and hunger leading to these deaths.

Tragic stampedes have been witnessed in Ibadan, Oyo state, Abuja and Okija in Anambra state with mostly women and children being victims and many more injured.

In Ibadan, more than 35 were confirmed dead, 10 in Abuja and 20 in Okija, Anambra state as citizens went to receive freebies from good spirited individuals and the Catholic Church in Abuja,

PDP kicks

The PDP in a statement on Sunday described the three recent food stampedes as “an ugly testament to the alarming level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival currently plaguing our nation” under the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Spokesman of the party, Debo Ologunagba, who signed the statement said the tragic stampedes at private food distribution events in Oyo and Anambra states as well as Abuja which claimed the lives of over 60 citizens could have been averted.

The party said, “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 heartbreaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to agonizing life where they die struggling for food.”

The PDP said the APC administration should wake up and not continue 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”.

Systemic failures – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, in a series of tweets on X, described the stampedes as systemic failures plaguing Nigeria.

He expressed concerns that despite abundant resources and fertile land in Nigeria, people were dying of hunger in the country.

He said, “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.

“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 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? How is it possible that we cannot feed our citizens despite the vast, fertile lands our nation is endowed with? My heart bleeds.”

Obi commiserated with families of the victims, “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,” he added.

Falana says it is poverty and criminal negligence

Femi Falana on Sunday identified poverty and criminal negligence as the main cause of the stampede that has led to the loss of Nigerians recently.

In a statement, the human rights lawyer also called for justice for the dead and injured victims, while chronicling some incidents that involved the distribution of food and cash distribution in the country.

He described the events as a national tragedy and called for systemic reforms to protect the dignity and lives of the citizens.

“There is also a sociological dimension to this national shame of episodic loss lives in stampedes triggered by mass hunger in the land,” Falana said.

“This should not be ignored. It is the unpardonable lack of respect for the dignity of the poor on the part of the members of the middle and upper classes involved in charity.”

He argued that organisers of charitable events should apply decency and demonstrate humanity while distributing food or cash items to the vulnerable.

“Since the individuals whose criminal negligence led to the avoidable tragedies are members of the ruling class the federal government and state governments have not gone beyond sending condolence messages to the survivors and the family members of the casualties.

“Therefore, the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond has resolved to mobilise lawyers to institute civil suits to ensure that the survivors and family members of the casualties are adequately compensated,” he added.

Tinubu mourns, cancels public engagements

Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos on Saturday in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Anambra state.

In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said one of Tinubu’s outings included attending the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.

He said the president was scheduled to watch the boat parade, organised by the Lagos government, and other activities of the boat regatta from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi area of the state.

According to the statement, dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos government and white cap chiefs from the state, were already seated when the president cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.

The president commiserated with the victims of the incidents and urged states and relevant authorities to immediately enforce strict crowd control measures.

The president noted that it was very disturbing that the events bore a “distressing” resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Tinubu said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.

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