Former Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called for the resignation of the current crop of leaders in Nigeria to make way for a new generation of leaders.

This is as he blamed the hardship and hunger caused by the reforms introduced by the government of President Bola Tinubu for the recent stampedes which occurred in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities of Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States in quick succession.

Okonkwo, in a statement released on Saturday via his X account, said the Tinubu government has reduced the worth of Nigerian lives to ₦5,000 and grains of rice.

According to him, the struggle of the people to get rice to satisfy their hunger follows the hardship they’ve been subjected to by the harsh policies of the Tinubu government, which has destroyed their human dignity.

While praying for the souls of the dead victims to rest in peace and for quick recovery for those injured, Okonkwo said the patience of Nigerians is running out, saying Nigeria needs a new crop of leaders.

“The deaths of innocent children and Nigerians in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities of Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States respectively from stampede resulting from struggles for N5,000.00 and rice is a manifestation that hunger and hardship in Nigeria under Tinubu are becoming unbearable.

“The reforms are excruciating and destructive to the dignity of the human person in Nigeria. Nothing is working. It’s obvious that in Nigeria today, the worth of a Nigerian life is reduced to N5k and grains of rice.

“If these incompetent and corrupt leaders have any sense of shame, they will collectively resign and make way for a new generation of leaders that have a conscience to pilot the affairs of Nigeria.

“The patience of Nigerians is wearing out, and this regime should sit up before the people compel it to sit up. God will not forsake Nigeria. The day of reckoning will come one day.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may God punish and torture the souls of our demented leaders,” he submitted.