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Blame Game Erupts Over Nigeria Stampede Tragedy
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
A war of words has erupted among Nigeria’s political leaders over the recent stampede tragedies that have claimed lives in various parts of the country. The Presidency, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP) have all engaged in a blame game, each trying to shift responsibility away from themselves.
The controversy started when former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, tweeted about the stampede incidents, describing them as systemic failures plaguing Nigeria. Obi expressed concern that despite the nation’s abundant resources and fertile land, citizens are dying of hunger.
The Presidency quickly responded, with Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, accusing Obi of politicizing the tragedies to achieve cheap points. Dare described Obi’s comments as indecent and lacking in statesmanship.
The APC also joined the fray, with its spokesman, Felix Morka, criticizing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for blaming the stampedes on the APC-led administration. Morka reminded the PDP of a similar stampede incident that occurred during its watch in 2014, which left many job seekers dead.
The Labour Party, however, insisted that the stampede incidents are evidence of the hunger epidemic that has descended on the nation. The party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, called on the government to scale down its agenda and redirect its policies towards food production.
As the blame game continues, many Nigerians are left wondering when the political leaders will take responsibility for the tragedies and work towards finding solutions. The stampede incidents have raised questions about the safety and security measures in place at public events, and the need for greater accountability and responsibility from those in positions of authority.
