Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed profound grief over the recent spate of stampede deaths across Nigeria, highlighting the desperate conditions driving citizens to risk their lives in the food search.
The former Anambra State governor in a series of posts on X, detailed three separate incidents: a Christmas funfair stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State, resulting in approximately 35 deaths (mostly children); a stampede in Abuja during a palliative distribution, claiming at least 10 lives; and another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, leaving 19 dead.
Obi, while acknowledging the good intentions of those distributing palliatives, forcefully condemned the systemic failures that have led to such tragic consequences.
He questioned how a resource-rich nation can allow its citizens to starve, emphasising the heartbreaking reality of people dying of hunger amidst abundant fertile land.
He offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and called for urgent action to address the underlying economic issues.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, Obi also used his posts to highlight broader concerns within the Nigerian justice system.
He praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for preventing the execution of a man sentenced to death for stealing a fowl and eggs, a sentence Obi deemed excessively harsh and indicative of a system that disproportionately punishes the poor while shielding the corrupt.
He stated that the case epitomises a system that rewards impunity and punishes integrity, calling for urgent judicial reforms and greater accountability in governance.
Obi’s X posts also documented a day of personal visits to offer condolences. He visited the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu following a gas explosion, consoled the family of a renowned professor over the death of his son in Qatar, and offered sympathies to a former teacher over the loss of his wife.
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