A Nation in Mourning: The Tragedy of a Failing Government: By Oluwaseun Olamiposi Arewa

The trio of recent stampedes that claimed the lives of over 57 Nigerians, mostly women and children, paints a tragic picture of the current state of governance under the APC-led Federal Government. These incidents occurring within days and tied by the common thread of desperate citizens scrambling for basic necessities are an indictment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s failure to address the scourge of hunger, poverty, and economic inequality in the land.

On December 18, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State, 35 children lost their lives, with six others hospitalized, after a Christmas funfair turned into a chaotic disaster. Organized to distribute cash and food, the event at Islamic High School, Bashorun, was overwhelmed by an unanticipated crowd of over 7,500 people, far exceeding the 5,000 the organizers had planned for. Days later, on December 21, tragedy struck again in Abuja at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama district, where at least 10 lives, including four children, were lost during a charity event for festive gifts. Similarly, in Okija, Anambra State, a stampede at a rice distribution event organized by philanthropist Chief Earnest Obiejesi claimed at least 12 lives, leaving over 30 injured.

In all these cases, the victims were vulnerable citizens, driven by desperation to secure the basic means to celebrate the festive season. These tragedies could and should have been avoided. Sending condolences, ordering investigations, or making arrests is not enough. What is there to investigate in a nation where hunger and poverty are so rampant that citizens risk their lives for a bag of rice or a cash handout? The failure lies squarely at the feet of a government that has prioritized political theatrics over genuine governance.

It is shameful that in a country blessed with vast resources and potential, families are reduced to mourning during a season meant for joy and celebration. These tragedies are not isolated incidents, they are the direct consequence of a government that has failed to uplift its people. The APC-led government has not only abdicated its responsibility to ensure food security and economic stability but has also shown a disturbing lack of compassion for the plight of its citizens.

What Nigerians need is not mere rhetoric or perfunctory gestures of sympathy but decisive action to address the root causes of poverty and hunger. A government that is truly committed to serving its people would focus on creating sustainable policies to provide employment, improve food production, and reduce the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Until these systemic issues are addressed, the tragedies of Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija will continue to haunt the nation. The blood of the innocent now cries out for justice, not just for the victims but for every Nigerian forced to live under the crushing weight of poverty and hardship. It is time for the Federal Government to wake up from its slumber and realize that the people it was elected to serve are not mere statistics.

Anything less than urgent, compassionate governance is a betrayal of the Nigerian dream. Let these tragic events be a wake-up call to leadership at all levels: the time for change is now.