Kehinde Fajobi
The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede at a children’s Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, which resulted in the deaths of several children and left many others injured.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during an event offering free entertainment for children, drawing a large crowd that tragically led to the stampede.
In a statement issued on Friday in Ado Ekiti, PDP Southwest Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, extended condolences to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the affected families, offering prayers for divine comfort.
Atofarati linked the tragedy to the harsh economic conditions in the country, which he argued had led families to seek out free entertainment for their children.
The statement read in part: “We are using this incident to call on the Federal Government to improve the standard of living in Nigeria. What happened is as a result of poverty in the land.”
Atofarati also urged the federal government to provide more jobs to help parents take better care of their children, adding, “The Federal Government should intensify efforts in ensuring that there is provision of adequate jobs for parents to be able to take proper care of their children and also to improve standards of living in the country. The event is quite unfortunate.”
The PDP also praised the swift response of Governor Makinde’s administration, which led rescue efforts to save children who were injured and launched an investigation into the incident.
The statement concluded: “The PDP in the Southwest sympathises with the people and government of Oyo State over the unfortunate incident and the accompanying stampede and loss of lives of children. We prayed that God consoles the families that lost their children in the incident.”