The African Action Congress (AAC) has attributed the recent stampedes in Ibadan and Okija to the failures and anti-poor policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
They argue that these repeated incidents, where people die while struggling for food, expose the harsh realities of poverty and government neglect faced by the Nigerian masses.
Femi Adeyeye, the AAC spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, paid condolences to the victims of these tragedies and called on the government to take greater responsibility and accountability in addressing national issues.
He said, “The AAC mourns with Nigerians over the tragic stampede at the Ibadan funfair, which resulted in the loss of 35 young lives and left six others critically injured. The incident in Okija, Anambra State, with varying figures of fatalities, has also plunged the country into mourning. Compounding this, a similar incident occurred in Abuja, reinforcing the notion that this is a nationwide tragedy driven by extreme poverty, hardship, and deprivation.
“These heartbreaking events are the tragic consequences of the poverty and desperation inflicted upon Nigerians by the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu regime.
“Adding insult to injury, the Tinubu administration has failed to implement any measures, including emergency responses, to address these recurring tragedies. In other places, a missing persons register would have been established, along with a situation room providing hourly updates on rescue and relief efforts. Instead, the President was in Lagos, surrounded by sycophants, showcasing his new jet and fleet of cars.”
Adeyeye criticized the government’s silence regarding the stampedes and urged Nigerians to unite in condemning and resisting poverty-induced tragedies. “The AAC demands justice and compensation for the victims and their families. While we recognize that no amount of compensation can erase the grief experienced, we call for a democratic committee comprising representatives from workers’ organizations to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We urge Nigerians not to be misled by the condolence messages from politicians who have contributed to the country’s crises and who are responsible for the policies that led to these tragedies. Their expressions of sympathy are nothing but ‘crocodile tears’ aimed at exploiting the suffering of the people for their political gain.
“It is time for Nigerians to come together to put an end to this regime of pain and hardship.
“The AAC will continue to fight for a system that prioritizes the welfare and well-being of the people, rather than the profits of a few. We demand an end to the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu administration and the establishment of a government that genuinely represents the interests of the people.”
