Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state should be held responsible for the stampede at a vigil in Uke that left over 30 people dead, for turning a house of prayer into a house of politics
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said had Governor Obi and the unpopular candidate he is seeking to impose on the people of the state, Willie Obiano, not gone to the praying ground to engage in wrongful politicking, the innocent souls who died at the vigil would be alive today.
It said while there is nothing wrong in a State Governor going to a vigil, such visit should not be impromptu in order for the organizers to make the necessary security arrangements, and it should also not be a licence to engage in political campaign.
APC condemned the plan by Gov. Obi to set up a panel to investigate the stampede, considering that the Governor himself is at the centre of the whole tragedy.
”Setting up a panel to investigate the cause of the stampede will amount to seeking to be a judge in your own case. The only cause of the stampede is the Governor’s ill-advised visit to the vigil.
” Information at our disposal has it that the stampede was triggered by the Governor’s overzealous security details who manhandled congregants as their principal was exiting the venue of the vigil. The security details were said to have been irked by the murmurs of disapproval that greeted the Governor’s attempt to campaign for his candidate, Mr. Obiano.
”It is therefore disingenuous for the Governor’s spin doctors to be shifting the blame on the supporters of our candidate, Senator Chris Ngige. The simple truth is that there would have been no stampede if Gov. Obi had not come to the vigil or, even if he had come, had not attempted to politicize the gathering that was meant strictly for prayers,” APC said.
The party said Gov. Obi should now take a cue from the disapproval that is trailing his desperate bid to impose a candidate on the state by ending all activities that can put the lives of Anambrarians at risk.
”We recall that an angry protest also greeted the attempt by the APGA campaign train, with Obiano in tow, to shut markets in Onitsha last month. The protests effectively short-circuited the APGA campaign. Had the Governor and his entourage learnt their lessons from the Onitsha debacle, they would not have needlessly endangered the lives of the same people whose votes they are desperately but undeservedly seeking,” it said.
APC said the candidacy of Obiano is not worth the blood and tears of the good people of Anambra, hence Gov. Obi should stop trying to impose an unpopular candidate on the people.
The party prayed that God will grant repose to the souls of the departed, while wishing all those injured a speedy recovery and the families of the victims the fortitude to bear their losses. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Ds write-up is political in itself. D bias writer should come out too declear he/she is working 4 APC cos I see no reason why d story will be from APC alone without airing d view of d other party, APGA.
ReplyDeleteToday i know people can be controversial human being, I was at the adoration ground myself i even helped saved a woman who almost suffocated, the stampede started when the adoration was dismissed, along the road to where people go to enter buses to there various destinations, some people began shouting cos of a motorbike that fell and was leaking fuel, and it was close to a woman frying akara, dat was how the issue of fire! fire!! broke out. people anticipated fire outbreak it was on dat people started jumping on top each other. peter OBI has no hand in whatever happened as Ngige and his cohort has publicized in so many media.
ReplyDeleteGoD̶̲̥̅̊ bless you fõr owning and giving †ђξ people Ǎ̜̣̍n eye witness account. Its so so unfortunate †ђã† people will want †̥ø̲̣̣ use other peoples death/mishap †̥ø̲̣̣ score useless political point. Ngige shame øñ Ɣõú.
Deletei wonder why APC pple are imposing Ngige on us, he spent 4 yrs as senator without a comment or contribution to the senate chamber
ReplyDelete