Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the recent tragic stampedes in Anambra State and Abuja, which resulted in the loss of numerous lives. The incidents, which took place on Saturday during food distribution events aimed at providing palliatives to citizens, have raised serious questions about Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and the vulnerability of its population.
In a heartfelt statement shared on X(formerly known as twitter), Obi condemned the stampedes, which he described as a heartbreaking reflection of the country’s systemic failures. He said, “I am deeply distressed by the tragic loss of lives during the desperate search for food. Just a few days ago, 35 people, many of them children, lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan. This morning, reports confirmed at least 10 deaths in Abuja as people scrambled for palliative aid, with many others injured. Now, I have just heard about the loss of 19 more lives in Okija, Anambra, where people were tragically caught in a similar scramble for food.”
Obi acknowledged the positive intent behind the food distribution efforts, praising the organisers for their noble efforts to support the most vulnerable. However, he also underscored the larger issue at play — a deep-seated economic crisis and widespread inequality. “While I appreciate the organisers for their commitment to helping the less fortunate, these incidents reveal a larger systemic failure,” Obi stated. “The dire need for survival in such harsh economic times has pushed people to the brink, to the point where they are willing to risk their lives in search of food.”
The former presidential candidate also questioned the paradox of widespread hunger in a nation so rich in natural resources. He pondered how it was possible for citizens to die of hunger despite the country’s vast agricultural potential. “In a country blessed with abundant resources, it is incomprehensible that people are dying from hunger,” Obi wrote. “How can this be happening in a nation that has fertile lands and enough resources to feed its population? My heart bleeds.”
Obi’s statement extended sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the people of the affected states. “One can only imagine the immense grief that the families of the deceased are experiencing. My thoughts are with them in this painful moment,” he said. He also expressed condolences to the people of Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stating, “I sincerely commiserate with the grieving families and the people of Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja. May God grant them the strength to endure these tragic losses.”
Concluding his message, Obi offered prayers for the souls of the deceased and the swift recovery of those injured. “May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may those who were injured find healing quickly,” he said.
