Nigeria’s main opposition party has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing three recent deadly food stampedes as evidence of a deepening humanitarian crisis gripping the nation. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) points to these tragedies, which claimed over 60 lives, as stark indicators of widespread hunger and desperation under current economic policies.
PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba delivered a scathing critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s economic management, linking recent policy decisions to what he describes as an unprecedented level of poverty and desperation among Nigerian citizens. The opposition’s statement directly connects the stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja to what they characterize as failed economic policies.
The tragic events occurred at private food distribution centers, where desperate citizens fought for basic sustenance, leading to chaos and multiple fatalities. These incidents have become powerful symbols of what the PDP describes as a broader crisis of survival facing ordinary Nigerians, particularly following recent economic reforms.
The opposition’s criticism focuses heavily on two specific policy decisions: the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira. According to the PDP, these “suffocating policies” were implemented too hastily, without adequate consideration of their impact on productive sectors and citizens’ welfare.
In their statement, the PDP emphasized the paradox of a resource-rich nation whose citizens are reduced to fighting over food handouts. The party argues that despite Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, government policies have created conditions where citizens increasingly face desperate choices, including risky migration abroad or participation in dangerous scrambles for charitable distributions.
The opposition party has demanded immediate government intervention to address what they term a national emergency. They argue that any responsible administration would have already implemented programs to mitigate the suffering caused by recent economic reforms, particularly in areas of food security and basic welfare.
The PDP’s critique extends beyond immediate policy decisions to question the government’s broader approach to economic management. They challenge what they describe as the administration’s “arrogant false performance claims,” particularly regarding food sufficiency, arguing that these claims contrast sharply with the reality of citizens dying in food queues.
The statement calls for a comprehensive review of current economic policies, suggesting that the government’s approach to economic reforms has prioritized macro-economic indicators over human welfare. The opposition party insists that the Tinubu administration must be held accountable for what they view as preventable tragedies.
These recent stampedes have intensified the national debate about the social costs of economic reform. While the government maintains that its policies are necessary for long-term economic stability, the opposition argues that the human cost of these reforms is becoming unbearable for ordinary citizens.
The PDP’s statement concludes with a call for immediate action, suggesting that the government’s primary responsibility should be ensuring citizens’ welfare rather than pursuing economic policies that they argue have exacerbated poverty and hunger. They emphasize that these tragic events should serve as a wake-up call for immediate policy adjustments.
As the political fallout from these tragedies continues to unfold, the incidents have highlighted the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and raised urgent questions about the balance between economic restructuring and social protection in Africa’s largest economy.
