Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has called for the release of the arrested organisers of palliative distribution, which resulted in the deaths of several Nigerians in stampedes.
Obi, in a statement on his verified X page on Sunday, mentioned that the Federal Government should be held accountable for plunging the citizens into hunger and hardship with its unfriendly economic policies.
Obi’s statement comes after Chronicle NG reports that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the events that resulted in the stampedes that claimed the lives of succour-seeking Nigerians.
Also, organisers of a children’s funfair where many children died following a stampede on Wednesday at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, have been arrested.
Reacting to the arrest, they appealed to the Oyo State Government to release the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, the organiser of the Oyo State children funfair.
Obi’s statement reads, ”While still in mourning mood over the precious lives lost due to tragic incidents stemming from the distribution of palliatives, I am deeply pained that such occurrences are a reflection of the severe hunger and poverty currently ravaging our nation.
”My heartfelt condolences go to the affected families, communities, and states.
”The recent arrest of the organisers of a palliative distribution program in Oyo state, spearheaded by the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has come to my attention. I want to make a heartfelt appeal to the government to reconsider this action.
”Acts of goodwill, even when they unintentionally result in unfortunate outcomes, should not be criminalized. This particular initiative was intended to alleviate suffering and bring relief to the people.
”If accountability is to be sought, it should begin with the leaders and policymakers whose cumulative actions—or inactions—have inflicted the widespread hardship and suffering we see today.
”It is the systemic failure of governance, not the efforts of well-meaning individuals, that should be scrutinised.
”As a nation, we must collectively retrace our steps and prioritise policies and actions that uplift the lives of our people.
”Let us redirect our focus toward creating a system where no citizen is left desperate for necessities.
”In doing so, we can begin to rebuild trust and ensure that tragedies like these are not repeated.”
