The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of politicizing the recent stampedes that claimed numerous lives during food distribution events in Ibadan, Oyo State; Abuja; and Anambra.
The ruling party’s response came after PDP’s criticism of the government, labeling the incidents as a reflection of widespread poverty, starvation, and desperation under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led administration.
In a statement issued by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party expressed dismay over PDP’s attempts to exploit the tragedies for political gain during a time of national mourning.
Morka called out PDP for its “callous political chicanery,” suggesting that the opposition was more focused on scoring political points than offering genuine sympathy to the victims and their families.
Morka reminded Nigerians of a similar tragedy in 2014, when a stampede during the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise in Abuja under PDP government led to the deaths of several job seekers.
He pointed out that while PDP had failed to address such incidents in the past, it was now attempting to shift the blame for the recent stampedes onto the current administration.
“PDP’s reaction to these tragedies shows a total lack of empathy,” Morka stated. “Rather than commiserating with the families of the victims, the opposition has chosen to politicize the pain and suffering of innocent Nigerians. The party’s allegations against APC-led government are not only misguided but reflect their own history of mismanagement during their time in power.”
The ruling party emphasized that the recent stampedes highlighted the need for better planning and organization of public events, especially those involving large crowds. Morka noted that such tragedies should unite Nigerians in reflection on how to prevent similar occurrences in the future, rather than being used as a tool for political finger-pointing.
Addressing the opposition’s claim that APC’s policies had caused economic decline, Morka fired back, accusing PDP of misleading the nation during their tenure.
“PDP’s administration was notorious for its corruption and economic mismanagement, leaving behind a distorted economy. Under APC government, we have moved away from the lies and deception of the past, and the economy is now on a steady path to recovery,” he said.
APC also urged PDP to focus on offering practical solutions to the country’s problems instead of exploiting tragedies for political gain. Morka reminded the opposition that Nigerians had not forgotten the inefficiencies of the PDP during their time in office and were increasingly aware of the progress made by the current government.
