Labour Party leader and former presidential candidate Peter Obi has attributed the recent deadly stampedes at rice distribution centers across Nigeria to the harsh economic conditions gripping the nation.
The incidents, which claimed numerous lives, occurred in Okija, Anambra State, and a Catholic church in Abuja, where at least 10 people died on Saturday. Just days earlier, 35 children were tragically killed in a stampede during a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reacting to the tragedies, Obi took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to express grief and extend condolences to the victims’ families. He highlighted the growing desperation among Nigerians struggling to access basic food supplies, which has led to unnecessary loss of life.
“I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food,” Obi wrote, lamenting the systemic failures that have driven people to extreme measures in their quest for survival.
While acknowledging the goodwill of palliative distributors, Obi questioned why a nation endowed with abundant resources and fertile lands cannot adequately feed its citizens. He described the situation as a reflection of the country’s economic challenges, which have left many Nigerians vulnerable.
“My heart bleeds,” Obi added. “How do we explain that in a nation blessed with resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers?”
The former governor commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also called for urgent systemic reforms to address the root causes of the nation’s economic challenges.
“May God grant the departed eternal rest and give strength to their families to bear these painful losses,” Obi concluded.
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