The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has blamed government failures to address hunger crisis for the recent stampedes where people lost their lives during food distributions in Oyo, Anambra states and Abuja.
But in his Christmas message on Wednesday, Bishop Kukah said the stampedes are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The failures of government to respond concretely toward ending the horrible crisis of hunger and desperation has created the conditions for these avoidable tragedies. Citizens are lapsing into despair.
Noting that the tragedies were avoidable, Bishop Kukah said that government needs to work more closely with institutions that help to promote the common good of our society.
He added that “It is the duty of government to ensure minimum dignity for our people.”
The cleric prayed that God grants eternal rest to the dead and console their families.
Many lost their lives, and several others were wounded in multiple stampedes in Anambra and the FCT during the distribution of food items on Saturday, prompting the Inspector General of Police to ask organisers of similar charity works to carry security agencies along and ensure strict adherence to crowd and safety management protocols.
A few days before that Abuja and Anambra incidents, over 30 children lost their lives in a stampede during a children funfair in Ibadan, the state capital.
Also in his message, Kukah urged Christians in Nigeria not to forget that they are the light of the world.
He said that Christians cannot continue to blame the Constitution, the judiciary, the police, or other public servants for the corruption in our society.
“I appeal to Christians not to forget that we are the light of the world, the city on the hill that cannot be hidden. Christians must not allow the structural weaknesses, the foibles and failures of the Nigerian state, to become an excuse for doing wrong.
“We cannot continue to blame the Constitution, the Judiciary, the Police, or other public servants for the corruption in our society,” Bishop Kukah said.
