The Sallah stampede in Ilorin, Kwara State, is a reflection of the viral poverty level in a country of plenty. Yet, the nation wantonly fails in her duty to provide for her citizenry. It is poignant to note that over 20 people, virtually old women, died while jostling with others to have a bite of the Sallah crumbs donated by Sen. Bukola Saraki, the immediate past governor of the state. According to reports, most victims of the stampede were loyalists of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The Eid-el-Kabir catastrophe reportedly commenced as a carnival at Ile Arugbo, Ilofa Road, Ilorin. But, by the time scrambling for the Sallah gifts such as food items and other commodities was over, the end result was not what was bargained for. Many were injured, the aged and the weak reportedly fainted, some of them never regained consciousness; they passed on in their worthless pursuit of consumables that may not last them beyond 48 hours!

We recollect that similar incidents occurred in the state in 2010 and 2011. Sadly, the condemnable act is not restricted to Ilorin. For example, in Sokoto State at the start of the last Ramadan fasting, three teenagers reportedly died during a related act of charity in a scramble for gifts at the governor's residence.

Senator Saraki, the donor of the gifts, expectedly had expressed sadness over the fatalities. However, the issue at stake is beyond mere outpouring of condolences but more importantly the lessons learnt to forestall a recurrence. No doubt, the former governor must have inherited the charity tradition from his late father who was a politician of national significance and ‘strong man' of Kwara State politics during his life time.

But the demeaning culture of alms-giving, not only in Kwara but other states in the country, is a manifestation of the high retardation level of the people. The trend of alms-giving under the guise of observing religious injunction has created a needlessly subservient citizenry – a people that wantonly look up to the rich and politically powerful in the society for their survival. In most cases, the men of power deploy alms as a tool more for reinforcing power than as a mark of adherence to almighty God's injunction.

We ask: Why must citizens rely on alms from the well-heeled members of the society, especially those in power, before they could be happy during any festivity? Rather than institutional development, why should a public officer derive joy in individual doling out of gifts to the governed in the society at the expense of their right to dignity? We still wonder whether if Saraki in his eight years of governing Kwara State had entrenched the required safety nets for the people, incidents such as the last stampede would not have been averted.

A system that allows the weak to remain perpetual slaves of the powerful should be discouraged in all parts of the country. And if it has to be done, it must be done in such a way that would not jeopardise the safety and dignity of beneficiaries?

We deplore a situation whereby a festivity like the Eid-el-Kabir that is meant to save and celebrate life was turned to one that has taken lives in Kwara State. Senator Saraki should deploy his resources to correct things that he did not do while he was in power that has made Kwara people to remain poor today.