The apex youths group in Ondo town, Ekimogun Youths Connect (EYC) has blamed the Federal Government over the December 18, Ibadan funfair stampede that claimed the lives of about 35 children.
The Ekimogun youth group, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Lucas Famakinwa, at the end of the stakeholders meeting of the youths held in Ondo town, the administrative headquarters of Ondo west local government area of the state.
Famakinwa blamed the Federal Government over it’s inability to make life more bearable for the people of the country, attributed the cause of the incident to what it called bad policy of the government.
However called the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Attorney General of Oyo State to immediately take over the case.
The youth group while expressed deep concern over the matter and the undeserved arraignment of Queen Naomi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School Bashorun Ibadan.
He said “The Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force is just punishing innocent people for no reason. The Nigeria Government deserves more punishment for impoverishing the people. If
people were not hungry, would they have killed themselves over a plate of rice?.
“Arresting, arraigning and bringing out fault from a programme with innocent intention is discouraging, what do expect, when food is not affordable for the men”
The EYC emphasized that the event was targeted by the organisers to give back to the people, explained that the stampede was as a result of the hunger and poverty that the government has brought to the the people of the country.
“We therefore call on the Attorney General of Oyo State and the Director of Public Prosecution to as a matter of urgency to take over the matter and withdraw the charges against the defendants, noted that the move will not further discourage people from giving to the less privilege”