By Paul Ejim
Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic archbishop of Abuja, has admonished the federal government for blaming organisers of a church food-distribution event that resulted in a stampede and deaths in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“Instead of a blame game, or condemnation for negligence, the government should collaborate with us to ask how we have been doing it for so many years and how we can improve in caring for the poor and needy in our society,” the prelate told journalists after celebrating Christmas service on Wednesday, at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja.
The police reported that at least 10 people, including four children, died last Saturday during food distribution at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.
This followed another tragedy in Ibadan, western Oyo state, where 35 people, mainly children lost their lives at a funfair.
After the Abuja incident, tragedy also struck in Okija, eastern State of Anambra, where 31 people reportedly died in a stampede during food distribution by a philanthropist.
Focusing on the Abuja incident, Archbishop Kaigama explained that the Catholic has a tradition of sharing and giving alms, which was the case at the Abuja Church.
He condemned the detention of the Parish Priest and some workers of the Abuja Church, saying such a response and comments by those he called “armchair critics” were “uncharitable and unacceptable”
“Catholic members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (a 16th Century French Priest and Patron of all works of charity), are renowned for soliciting for food, cash and other essential items, which are then distributed to the poor and the needy, irrespective of their faith or religion,” the prelate said, adding: “The Catholic is a not-for-profit organisation and has been doing this charity work even before Nigeria’s independence.”
He described members of the Society and those involved in the food distribution at the Abuja Church, as “heroes and heroines” of 2024.
A spokesman alleged that the police were unaware of the food distribution.
President Bola Tinubu while answering questions at his maiden Media Chat blamed the stampede on “poor planning” by the organisers.
According to Archbishop Kaigama: “There is hunger, unemployment and economic hardship in the land, the organisers of the food distribution did not expect the crowd that turned out and their intention was to care for the poor and the needy.”
“It is the duty and responsibility of the government to cater to the needs of the people, provide them with food and employment, the Church is only trying to assist,” he said, adding: “When there is an incident such as this, the government is expected to collaborate and not condemn people trying to assist others.”
The prelate, however, expressed the hope that “the incident will attract the government to us, to talk, collaborate as being done in other counties and find ways to improve in the future.”
Earlier in his Homily, the archbishop counselled: “When people are elected to public office, they should not be self-centred or self-serving but should serve the people. They should not close their doors to the poor or surround themselves with security details and become inaccessible.”
In the spirit of Christmas, he urged the congregation to emulate Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for the salvation of others.
