Tinubu Criticizes Organizers for Fatal Stampedes, Urges Better Planning and Discipline
President Bola Tinubu has expressed disappointment over the fatal stampedes that occurred during palliative distribution in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja, blaming the organizers for poor planning. Speaking during his first Presidential Media Chat, Tinubu described the incidents as “grave errors” that highlight systemic flaws in managing large-scale public aid initiatives.
Tragic Loss of Lives
The stampedes in the past week resulted in the deaths of dozens, including children. In Ibadan, Oyo State, 35 lives were lost during a carnival, while in Okija, Anambra State, 22 people died as they struggled to receive donated rice from entrepreneur Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson. In Abuja, 10 people lost their lives and many others were injured during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.
“These are very grave errors on the part of the organizers,” Tinubu said. Despite the tragedies, he urged Nigerians to “get on with it” and not let the incidents overshadow the season’s spirit.
Call for Discipline and Organization
The president also criticized Nigerians’ lack of discipline during public events, pointing to a broader cultural issue. He cited his personal experience distributing food and money in Lagos over the past 25 years, claiming he had never experienced a stampede due to his “organized, cultured, and disciplined” approach.
“I have been giving out foodstuffs, commodities, and envelopes at Bourdillon (Street) for the last 25 years. I have never experienced this kind of incident because we are organized and disciplined,” he said. Tinubu advised that publicized aid distributions should only occur if organizers have adequate resources and plans in place.
Broader Reflections
The president drew parallels between the stampedes and the chaotic behavior often observed at Nigerian bus stops, where passengers frequently disregard queues. He described this as a reflection of societal issues that require urgent attention.
“It is unfortunate. We just have to… It is a reflection in our bus stops where we don’t even want to be in the queue before we rush into the vehicle. It is very sad, but we will continue to learn from our mistakes,” Tinubu said.
Sympathy Amid Criticism
While he sympathized with families who lost loved ones, Tinubu’s comments on the organizers’ failures and societal behavior have drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue that his remarks, while addressing the need for better planning, lacked sufficient focus on systemic changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
A Need for Structural Reforms
The recurring incidents of stampedes during public events in Nigeria underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms. Public distributions of aid should involve meticulous planning, crowd control measures, and collaboration with security agencies to ensure safety. Addressing these issues requires both government intervention and a cultural shift towards greater discipline and organization in public spaces.
The stampedes serve as a grim reminder of the risks associated with poorly managed events, and the president’s remarks, though reflective, should be followed by actionable steps to prevent such avoidable losses of life.
Reference
Tinubu Criticizes Organizers for Fatal Stampedes, Urges Better Planning and Discipline
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