The All Progressives Congress has criticized the opposition Peoples Democratic Party for politicizing recent stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory, which resulted in the deaths of several citizens.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC expressed outrage at the PDP’s response to the tragedies. Instead of offering genuine condolences to the victims and their families, the PDP reportedly used the incidents as an opportunity to attack the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The APC condemned this approach, describing it as callous and insensitive.
The APC emphasized that, in a time of national grief, all Nigerians should come together in reflection and solidarity. The party stressed the need for better planning and organization to prevent such tragedies, while extending condolences to the victims and their families. It also reminded the public of the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment stampede under the PDP, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, calling attention to the opposition’s record of mismanagement.
Furthermore, the APC defended the Tinubu administration’s efforts to address Nigeria’s welfare, listing several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians. These included investments in alternative energy, salary increases for workers, transportation subsidies, grants for farmers and SMEs, and a variety of humanitarian programs. The party argued that these efforts show the current administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people, contrasting them with the alleged mismanagement of the past PDP government.
The APC also dismissed the PDP’s claims that the administration had damaged the economy, pointing to the long-standing distortions and corruption under previous PDP administrations. The party commended President Tinubu for his bold economic reforms and for prioritizing the nation’s long-term prosperity.
Finally, the APC praised President Tinubu for canceling his scheduled activities to honor the victims of the stampedes and reiterated its condolences to the affected families, wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
“We commend President Tinubu for calling off his scheduled activities in response to, and in honour of the victims of, the incidents. Again, we commiserate with families that lost their loved ones and wish the injured speedy recovery,” the statement added.
