The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Bashiru, has taken a jab at Peter Obi, the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, accusing him of using the tragic stampede in Ibadan as a political opportunity.
The incident occurred at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, during a funfair organized by Naomi Shikemi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife. The event turned fatal, leading to chaos and loss of lives.
On Thursday, the Oyo State Police Command reported that 35 people had died, and six others were critically injured. By Friday, the death toll had risen to 40, with many more still in the hospital receiving treatment.
Reacting to the tragedy, Peter Obi expressed his sadness and called it a clear sign of Nigeria’s systemic failure. He pointed out that the harsh realities of inequality in the country often expose children to life-threatening situations, such as scrambling for small Christmas gifts.
In response, Ajibola Bashiru criticized Obi’s remarks, accusing him of turning the tragic incident into a political statement. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Bashiru said, “Peter Obi is always inconsistent. It’s not surprising that he chose to play politics with this unfortunate event.”