The Fredrick Fasehun-led Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has expressed sorrow over the deaths of scores of Nigerians rushing for donated free foodstuffs, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency on food nationwide.
The organization also urged President Tinubu to reconsider his administration’s policies on zero-fuel subsidy, increased electricity tariffs, and high fees in government-owned educational institutions, insisting that every policy must have a human face.
Last week, reports indicated that 35 people died in Ibadan, Oyo State; 20 in the Okija area of Anambra State; and 10 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while rushing for food donations.
General Secretary of the OPC, Comrade Bunmi Fasehun, lamented the tragic incidents in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday.
He emphasized the need for President Tinubu to intervene urgently to reduce food prices, alleviate hunger, and ease the suffering of citizens by declaring a state of emergency on food.
Fasehun urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to open borders and ports to facilitate the swift entry of food into Nigeria. He also called for the free movement of local and imported rice and other food items on Nigerian highways.
“This government must mandate Customs and other agencies to stop seizing food items and hindering the transportation of edibles and consumables,” he stated.
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Expressing sympathy for the victims of the food stampede, Fasehun said the deaths highlighted the hopelessness and frustration faced by many Nigerians.
He described the tragedies as a reflection of the severe hunger and poverty affecting millions across the nation.
“These avoidable deaths send a loud and tragic message about the millions of Nigerians who are constantly confronted by crippling starvation and deep poverty, yet governments at all levels show no concern,” Fasehun said.
“Why should Nigeria, with its reputation as the Giant of Africa, record such tragic mishaps? These deaths are a disgrace to our status as a nation blessed with natural resources, abundant human capacity, and millions of hectares of arable land.”
Fasehun criticized the government’s palliative measures, saying they are inadequate and fail to reach the intended beneficiaries.
“Today, a bag of rice costs more than N100,000, three times its price under Muhammadu Buhari and about 15 times its value under Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.
He highlighted the rising cost of cooking gas, transportation, and the scarcity of naira notes, stressing that these challenges have exacerbated the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Fasehun urged the government to scrap policies that have impoverished citizens, including the zero-fuel subsidy, increased electricity tariffs, and high fees in government-owned institutions.
“Every policy must have a human face,” he added. “What is the use of government recording increases in revenue allocation when inflation erodes all the gains and Nigerians are being killed by hunger, frustration, and desperation?”
Fasehun called on President Tinubu’s administration to prioritize food security and create an environment conducive to farming by addressing the insecurity plaguing rural communities.
He also decried the epidemic of youth unemployment, which he said fuels disillusionment and criminal activities.
In addition, Fasehun advised the president to restrain security agents from using archaic laws to stifle free expression, noting that Tinubu was once a vocal advocate for democracy as a member of NADECO alongside notable figures like the late Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
“Now that Tinubu, a pro-democracy activist, is in power, why are Nigerians being denied their right to free expression and freedom to protest peacefully?” Fasehun queried.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
