We condemn in strong terms what has almost become an annual ritual where dozens will die queuing to collect amala and ewedu, N50 notes and five yards of ankara under the guise of political philanthropy. For the record, these deaths are the third in a space of four years! These occurred in 2010, 2011 and now in 2013. Worst still, every time this happens the government and the PDP play down the casualty figures and do nothing more than issuing ready-made statements to commiserate with the families of the dead, while doing nothing to tackle the cause of the cycle of death in the coming year. Conservative estimates say up to 47 persons have been confirmed dead in this year's carnival of death alone! Counted together, it is safe to say hundreds of Kwarans have been lost to this practice.

In 2011 when dozens died collecting these Greek gifts, our party, in a letter dated May 31, 2011, requested Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to investigate the matter and put in place measures to ensure it never happens again. We heard nothing after this. Here we are again! For how long can anyone continue to waste precious lives in the guise of whatever philanthropy? It has to stop! Rather than continue this demeaning practice of queuing people up for whatever gift, the alternative is to set up a foundation to assist people to outlive the poverty that made them queue for food that costs no more than N100.

Now this tragedy must not go without being investigated and culprits punished. This cycle of deaths must stop. Innocent lives must not continue to be exploited for political gain. We call on the Nigerian Police, the National Human Rights Commission and other relevant agencies to investigate this annual tragedy and pass their findings to the appropriate bodies for further steps. Enough is enough!

Signed:
Rafiu Ajakaye media aide to M.D. Belgore SAN.