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Hardship: It is heartbreaking – Peter Obi reacts as 7 die in Lagos stampede while trying to purchase N10k rice

Published

2 months ago

February 26, 2024

Fenton

Hardship: It is heartbreaking - Peter Obi reacts as 7 die in Lagos stampede while trying to purchase N10k rice

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the seven individuals who tragically lost their lives in Lagos while attempting to purchase N10k rice from the Nigeria Customs Service.

The incident unfolded due to severe hunger plaguing the nation, painting a grim picture of the situation.

Lagos Stampede!!! Pregnant Woman, 6 Others Feared Dead Amid Struggle For Customs Rice - The News Diet

Obi found himself caught in a tragic turn of events when an APC chieftain, Comfort Adebanjo, and six others lost their lives. The incident unfolded as they were trying to acquire seized rice being auctioned by the Nigerian Customs Service to help ease the economic struggles faced by many in the country.

Addressing attendees at the one-year mark of the 2023 presidential election in Abuja on Sunday, Obi expressed concern over the unequal distribution of funds by the present administration.

He expressed his frustration over the disproportionate allocation of funds, highlighting that a larger budget was dedicated to constructing car parks for politicians than to supporting the critical functions of certain major teaching hospitals.

“The hunger protests have united our people across ethnicity, language, region, faith, and location.

“This is another confirmation of our belief that Nigerians are united by the circumstances of their living conditions, not by artificial barriers raised by opportunistic politicians. We are now one people under hunger.

“Just yesterday, I read with sadness the reports of how a massive crowd besieged the Zonal Office of the Nigerian Customs in Yaba to purchase the discounted 25kg rice offered by the Customs Service.

“In the course of the heavy stampede that ensued, some lives were lost.

“It is heartbreaking to think that despite all the wealth of our nation, Nigerians are losing their lives in their desperate quest to buy food cheaper, in the face of the growing hunger and starvation in the country,” he said.

Obi criticized the excessive expenditure on “wasteful items” such as expensive renovations of already luxurious offices and residences.

“In all our adversity, our new leaders have resorted to spending stupendous amounts of resources on wasteful items like ordering expensive renovations of offices and residences,” Obi added.