Former Labour Party stalwart, Kenneth Okonkwo has launched a scathing critique of Nigeria’s current leadership, holding them accountable for the worsening hardship and hunger in the country.
He called for their immediate resignation, following tragic stampedes in Ibadan (Oyo State), Maitama (Abuja), and Okija (Anambra State), which claimed lives and left many injured.
In a statement shared via his Instagram account on Saturday, Okonkwo linked the incidents to the harsh economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to him, these policies have exacerbated poverty and desperation, reducing the value of Nigerian lives to mere ₦5,000 and bags of rice.
“The stampedes that took the lives of innocent children and citizens in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija are heartbreaking. These tragedies are a direct result of the unbearable hunger and hardship caused by the Tinubu administration’s failed policies,” he stated.
Okonkwo described the government’s reforms as “excruciating and destructive,” accusing them of stripping Nigerians of their dignity and leaving the nation in disarray. He called for a complete overhaul of the leadership, urging them to make way for a new generation of compassionate and competent leaders.
“If these corrupt and incompetent leaders had any sense of shame, they would step down immediately and allow leaders with a conscience to take over and guide Nigeria toward recovery,” he said.
The actor-turned-politician also warned that Nigerians’ patience is waning, calling on the government to act swiftly before citizens are forced to take matters into their own hands.
“May the souls of those who lost their lives rest in peace. May God heal the injured and deal justly with the leaders who have failed the nation,” he added, emphasizing that the lives lost in the stampedes were a reflection of the dire state of the country.
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The tragic incidents have sparked outrage across the country, with many Nigerians voicing frustration over the government’s handling of the economy and their inability to alleviate widespread suffering.
