Peter Obi mourns victims of stampedes, blames systemic failures

…calls for urgent solutions to hunger crisis

By Sodiq Adelakun

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent stampedes that have claimed numerous lives in various parts of Nigeria.

In a statement issued via his official X handle, Obi refrained from casting blame on the organizers of the events, instead focusing on the broader systemic failures that he believes contributed to the tragic outcomes.

The stampedes, which occurred in Okija, Anambra State, and Abuja, left several dead and many injured. The most recent tragedy, in Okija, saw at least 19 people lose their lives while scrambling for food items during a distribution event.

This followed a similar incident earlier in Abuja, where at least 10 people died. These incidents come on the heels of a stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, that claimed 35 lives, mostly children.

In his response, Obi said, “While I will not cast blame, I sincerely appreciate the organizers of these events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor.”

He emphasized, however, that these tragedies are a stark reflection of the deep-rooted systemic issues within the country. Obi pointed to the desperate search for survival by many Nigerians, driven by the harsh economic realities of the country, as the key factor behind such tragic events.

He lamented the loss of lives, questioning why a nation endowed with abundant resources continues to struggle with hunger and poverty.

“How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers?” Obi remarked, urging for urgent solutions to the nation’s food security crisis.

The former Anambra state governor extended his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory, calling on Nigerians to find collective solutions to the systemic problems that continue to fuel such tragic incidents.

“My heart bleeds for the victims and their families,” Obi said, adding, “May God grant them eternal rest, and may the injured recover swiftly.”