Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food from stampedes caused by hunger under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
In his statement on December 21, 2024, he urged for immediate action to tackle the hunger crisis.
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. Additionally, about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items.
Obi appreciated the organizers of these events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor. However, he emphasized that these tragedies reflect the systemic failures plaguing the society. The desperate quest for survival in harsh economic times has driven people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives.
Obi questioned how a nation blessed with abundant resources could have people dying of hunger in such numbers. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the people of Oyo, Anambra, and the FCT over these tragic incidents. He prayed for God to grant them the strength to bear these painful losses and for the departed souls to rest in peace.
