Kenneth Okonkwo Calls for President Tinubu’s Resignation Over Government-Induced Hardship and Stampedes
Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), has called for the resignation of Nigeria’s current leadership, urging the emergence of a new generation of leaders.
He made the statement following the recent stampedes in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities in Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States, which he attributed to the hardship and hunger caused by the economic reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a statement shared on his X account, Okonkwo criticized the government’s handling of the country’s economic challenges, claiming that the value of Nigerian lives has been reduced to mere ₦5,000 and bags of rice. He blamed the struggles of Nigerians to secure basic food items, particularly rice, on the harsh policies that have diminished the human dignity of citizens.
Okonkwo expressed deep sorrow for the victims of the stampedes, offering prayers for the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. He also warned that the patience of Nigerians is quickly running out, asserting that the country needs a new leadership that can restore dignity and address the people’s suffering.
“The tragic deaths of innocent Nigerians, including children, in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities due to stampedes while struggling for ₦5,000 and rice are clear signs of the worsening hunger and hardship under Tinubu’s government,” Okonkwo said. “These policies have not only brought immense suffering but have also stripped Nigerians of their dignity. It is evident that, under this administration, the value of a Nigerian life has been reduced to ₦5,000 and grains of rice.”
He went on to accuse the government of incompetence and corruption, urging the current leaders to step down and allow a new generation of leaders who possess a sense of conscience and responsibility to take charge of the country.
“If these leaders had any sense of shame, they would collectively resign and make way for a new generation of leaders who care about the welfare of the Nigerian people,” he added. “The patience of Nigerians is wearing thin. This regime needs to act swiftly before the people are forced to take matters into their own hands. The day of reckoning will come, and God will not forsake Nigeria.”
In closing, Okonkwo offered condolences to the families of the victims and invoked divine retribution on the leaders he holds responsible for the country’s dire state. “May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may God punish and hold accountable those leaders who have caused so much suffering to the Nigerian people,” he concluded.
