Tinubu attributes food palliative stampedes to poor organisation
Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has attributed the recent stampedes in some parts of the country to poor organisations, given that he has been sharing palliatives in his Lagos residence for 25 years without recording any case of stampede.
The Informant247 had reported that a stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, left 35 children dead, and many others were critically injured.
Meanwhile, 10 persons also lost their lives during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, where food items were being distributed to the vulnerable and elderly. Several others sustained injuries.
Similarly, a palliative distribution event organised by philanthropist Obi Jackson in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, ended in chaos, leaving three individuals dead and many others injured.
Speaking during his first presidential media chat on Monday, Tinubu described the incidents as a “grave error” by the organisers.
But the president insisted that the incidents should not dampen the “happiness of the season”.
“It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be more disciplined in our society. Condolences to those who lost members, but it is good to give,” Tinubu said.
READ ALSO: Reforms: We can’t change everything in a calendar year – Tinubu
“I’ve been giving out foodstuff and commodities, including envelopes in Bourdillon, for the last 25 years, and I’ve never experienced this kind of incident because we are organised and disciplined.
“If you know you won’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to give or publicise it.”
The president compared the situation to food banks in countries like the United States of America (USA) and Britain while harping on their structured approach.
“Every society, even in America, has food banks. They have hungry people. In Britain, they have food banks and warehouses, and they are organised. They take turns lining up and collect,” he added.
“…It’s unfortunate and very sad, but we will continue to learn from our mistakes. I see this as a grave error on the part of the organisers, but things are improving. It doesn’t kill our happiness for the season; we should just get on with it.”
Source: TheCable
