The Federal Government yesterday condoled with families of the victims of weekend’s stampedes in Anamabra, Abuja where no fewer than 39 people died.
It also commiserated with the families of the kids crushed to death on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The three disasters occurred during attempts to share palliatives to the vulnerable.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, who conveyed the condolences, however, cautioned those politicising the unfortunate incidents, saying Tinubu’s reset of the economy has nothing to do with the stampedes deaths.
Idris said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents.”
The minister said the tragedies were deeply saddening and underscored the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially during the festive season.
Acknowledging the noble intentions of organisers seeking to bring relief to vulnerable members of society, the minister admonished all individuals and organisations planning similar events to comply with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun on liaising with the police formations for effective crowd control and security measures.
According to him, collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), is crucial to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.
The minister also urged politicians and other stakeholders to refrain from politicising the unfortunate incidents, stressing that those tragic events are in no way connected to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s economic reforms.
“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, before the current administration, as such, making any attempt to link these tragedies to the President’s reforms is unfounded and disingenuous,” he said.
Idris added that the reforms, while repositioning the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth, are designed to uplift the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable without causing distress.
The minister called for a collective sense of responsibility and urged citizens to unite and ensure that the Yuletide season is marked by peace, goodwill, and joy, devoid of preventable tragedies.
The Police in Anambra State yesterday put the death toll in the Okija tragedy at 22. Some attendees were also injured during the distribution of bags of rice by a non-profit making organisation, ObiJackson Foundation to the less-privileged on Saturday.
The FCT Police Command as of yesterday gave no death figure on the tragedy at the venue of palliative distribution by Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.
PDP Blames Policies
But the PDP said the “anti-people policies,” by the All Progressives Congress-led government had exacerbated poverty and created widespread hunger across the nation.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said the “anti-people policies,” including fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira were key contributors to the nation’s economic struggles.
It argued that the policies, combined with mismanagement and corruption, have led to a sharp decline in living standards, pushing many Nigerians into extreme hardship.
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.’’
The party also criticised the APC government for failing to invest adequately in Agriculture, despite repeated calls from stakeholders, including the opposition, for measures to address food insecurity.
It also alleged that resources meant to alleviate the suffering of citizens have been misappropriated, citing claims of palliative mismanagement and inflated government contracts.
Mourning the victims of the stampedes, the PDP hailed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for providing medical assistance to those injured in the Ibadan stampede.
It called for a probe into the incidents and extended condolences to the victims’ families in Okija and Abuja.
Buhari Condoles With Tinubu
Former President Buhari condoled with President Tinubu over the stampedes.
Buhari, in a message yesterday, also expressed sympathy to Governors Makinde and Soludo as well as Wike and the Catholic community on the tragedies.
He also wished those injured in the stampedes speedy recovery.
Buhari further extended his warm wishes to Nigerians on the occasion of Christmas and called on Christians to recall the noble teachings of Jesus Christ.
In his message to Tinubu, Governors Makinde, Soludo and victims’ families, Alia said he was saddened by the incidents
Soludo: Probe Begins
Soludo said yesterday that an investigation into the Okija stampede had commenced.
Describing the incident as regrettable, Soludo extended his condolences to the families of the deceased unfortunate incident.
“The Anambra State Government in prompt action on the incident has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede,’’ the governor said.
He assured that “the government will work closely with relevant agencies to determine the root causes of this unfortunate event and ensure that any negligence or lapses in safety protocols are duly addressed.’’
Soludo, according to the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, implored all well-meaning individuals and organisations engaged in charitable activities to prioritise the safety and well-being of beneficiaries.
– CAN Decries Deaths
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the stampedes as tragic.
It called on Nigerians to support those who were affected.
“The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is disturbed by the tragic events at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama on Saturday morning. We have learned that at least 10 people, including children, lost their lives in a stampede while trying to seek help from the church,’’ said the association President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.
CAN added: “This tragedy is not just statistics; it represents real families who are hurting. Each person lost was someone’s beloved family member. We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Church and to the families affected by this terrible incident.”
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