PDP blames Tinubu’s administration for stampede deaths, calls for review of economic policies
The party accused the government of mismanaging the economy, which has led to social unrest and a worsening standard of living.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, holding it responsible for the deaths in recent stampedes.
The party accused the government of mismanaging the economy, which has led to social unrest and a worsening standard of living.
In a statement on Sunday, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, said the economic challenges, such as inflation and poverty, have contributed to situations where people, in search of basic resources or support, end up in dangerous, overcrowded conditions leading to tragic stampedes.
On Wednesday, over 35 people, mostly children were killed in a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
On Saturday, two stampede incidents also occurred in Ojika, Ihiala LGA of Anambra and the Maitama area of Abuja during the distribution of rice and other palliative materials.
About 22 persons reportedly lost their lives in the Anambra incident, while 10 residents were confirmed dead in the Abuja stampede.
Ologunagba said Tinubu should reevaluate the policies of his administration, especially concerning economic relief and social welfare, to prevent further hardship and loss of life.
He noted that such tragedies could have been avoided with better planning and intervention from the government to address the root causes of the stampedes, such as extreme poverty and lack of access to adequate social services.
“The PDP describes the widespread food stampede in the country as an ugly testament to the alarming level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, and sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival currently plaguing our nation under the overtly insensitive, corrupt, and rudderless Tinubu-led government,” the statement reads.
“It is heartbreaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to an agonising life where they die struggling for food.
“The PDP calls on Nigerians to hold the Tinubu-led APC administration responsible for the remote cause of these tragic occurrences for which it must recompense.
“For the umpteenth time, the PDP demands the immediate review of all the suffocating economic and tax policies of the APC administration, which are bringing misery and death to Nigerians daily.
“PDP condoled with Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and the families of the deceased while commending him for his swift response to the incident.”
