On October 21st, 2024, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, issued a heartfelt statement following his visit to Dutse, Jigawa State, where he offered his condolences to Governor Alhaji Umar Namadi Dan Modi and the people of Jigawa.
The visit came in the aftermath of a tragic petroleum tanker explosion that claimed the lives of over 180 individuals, with more than 80 others still hospitalized.
Obi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, particularly noting that many of the victims were young people in their prime. “This is a national tragedy,” he stated, offering prayers for the souls of the departed and strength for the grieving families. He also pledged to donate to the victims and thanked the government for its ongoing efforts to assist those affected.
In his statement, Obi called for greater care from tanker drivers and urged governments at all levels to provide citizens with alternative means of livelihood to reduce the risks of such catastrophic incidents. He emphasized the importance of proactive measures, both from the government and the public, to prevent future tragedies.
“The frequency of such disasters in our nation is alarming,” Obi remarked. He urged for a collective appeal to God’s intervention, while also stressing the need for infrastructure development and stricter laws to mitigate the occurrence of preventable tragedies. According to Obi, “Tragedies occur when necessary human action is not adequately taken to mitigate misfortune,” underscoring the need for better safety measures and governance.
