The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of politicising the recent stampedes in Abuja, Anambra, and Ibadan, where several lives were tragically lost.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the APC’s national publicity secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, condemned the PDP’s actions, calling them “grossly indecent, insensitive, and despicable.” Morka took aim at the opposition party for using the national grief surrounding the stampedes to launch a political attack on the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“At a time of national grief over the stampedes that resulted in the deaths of citizens, the PDP seized the moment to engage in callous political chicanery,” Morka said. “Rather than genuinely commiserate with the victims and their families, the PDP chose to politicise the tragedy, blaming the incidents on the APC government.”
Morka noted that the tragedies had united Nigerians in mourning and reflection, with the focus shifting towards how the incidents might have been avoided through better planning, organisation, and management of public events.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families,” Morka added, emphasising that the APC administration was fully aware of the need for improved systems to prevent such occurrences.
Morka rebuked the PDP for exploiting the stampedes to attack the APC, especially since the current administration was working diligently to address the challenges inherited from nearly two decades of PDP rule. He also reminded the PDP of a similar incident during its time in power—the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment stampede, which led to the deaths of many job seekers.
“The PDP’s allegations only serve to remind us of its sordid record of maladministration and incompetence,” Morka stated, stressing that the opposition party’s criticisms were hypocritical, given its own failures in handling public safety.
Morka dismissed the PDP’s claim that President Tinubu’s administration was not committed to the welfare of Nigerians, calling it “mischievous and out of touch with reality.” He pointed to several initiatives by the APC-led government, including investments in alternative energy, the introduction of the Credit Corps scheme, and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as well as salary reviews for workers and increased allowances for corps members.
The APC spokesperson also highlighted the administration’s efforts to provide free and subsidised transportation during the holiday period, approve grants for farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and other humanitarian initiatives. Morka expressed confidence that these measures demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians, declaring it “the most people-centric in our history.”
Furthermore, Morka rejected the PDP’s claim that the APC’s policies had damaged the economy. He accused the PDP of operating a “phantom economy” for years, riddled with distortions and corruption, while deceiving Nigerians into believing the economy was thriving under its rule.
