In July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged all arms of government and other stakeholders to join hands with the government to build a prosperous nation, this is what the organisers of the Ibadan funfair that ended tragically, claiming the lives of 35 minors at Islamic High School, Basorun Ibadan did. This is also the situation with the one that occurred in Anambra state and the Federal Capital Territory where many Nigerian adults also lost their lives.
The organizers heeded the call of the president to build a better and prosperous nation. It is however a pity that innocent Nigerian minors and adults can abruptly lose their lives. The organisers meant well for these people. Why are people condemning the organisers? Did they call them to come and die or to come and pick up free gift items to celebrate this year’s 2024 Christmas? I can’t put all the blame on the organisers as they have proven to be good Nigerians by spending their hard-earned money to take care of the Nigerian poor. It is in view of this that I sympathise with the family and friends of those who lost their lives. This is the time for state governments across the nation to amend their laws on how to be distributing free gift items to poor minors and adults; this will prevent future occurrence of this tragedy.
Let me not forget to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do the needful by taking urgent steps to address the problem of hunger facing Nigerians. The stampede is a clear manifestation that hunger is real in Nigeria.
Jimoh Mumin, [email protected], Ibadan.
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