A thick atmosphere of grief, pain and loss still pervades homes and families of victims of the December 10, 2016 Reigners’ Bible Church building collapse in which scores of lives were lost and many injured in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The unfortunate incident occurred during the bishopric ordination of the church founder, Pastor Akan Weeks.
Governor Udom Emmanuel and his retinue of aides, dignitaries, clergymen and crème de la crème were in attendance.
The structure came crashing down on worshippers crushing bones, dismembering limbs, smashing heads and snuffing life out of the unlucky in the building.
Fortunately the state governor was lucky to have escaped unhurt as he was whisked away by his security aides. However, some of his aides, such as the Chief Press Secretary, Ekerette Udoh, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy Charles Udoh were seriously wounded.
After the usual rescue operation, came the issue of ascertaining the total number of casualties. Conflicting figures of those killed in the tragedy emerged. While eyewitnesses said 200 died, the government said it was only 37.
Following intense criticisms and pressures from many quarters, including families of victims, civil society groups and members of the public, the state government set up a 6-member judicial
commission of inquiry to look into the factors that led to the collapse of the building.
The commission was chaired by Justice Umoekoyo Essang(retd). After receiving memoranda from parties involved and listening to submissions from architects, engineers, the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), the embattled pastor of the Reigners’ Church, Akan
Weeks and the civil society groups, it came out with its report.
Not a few people doubted the sincerity of the government to implement the recommendations of the judicial commission of inquiry.
Those who doubted alluded to a cordial relationship between the governor and the founder of the church.
Emmanuel, while receiving the report, said: “I heard in your address that people were making insinuations that I have been bought by uninformed men. I wonder what price that person will pay that will be equal to people’s lives.”
He advised people against politicising unfortunate incidents, and said: “It shows that these people don’t deserve to express opinions in the public.
“When that thing happened that day, it did not select members of a particular political party, it didn’t select members of a particular denomination, colour, race, there was no sentiments. It was a tragedy.”
Justice Essang regretted the late submission of the main report, saying the delay was due to logistics, which, he said, affected the submission of the Nigerian Society of Engineers’ report on the real cause or causes of the collapsed church building.
Justice Essang said the Nigerian Society of Engineers’ report was submitted on June 3, 2017 and was incorporated into the commission’s report.
Many had expected the state government to immediately implement the commission’s report but were disappointed as the delay by government was again misconstrued as complacency, insensitivity and conspiracy.
However, the government penultimate week announced that it had paid medical bills of injured victims in the tragedy to the tune of N300million.
Again, government in a statement signed by the commissioner for information and strategy, Charles Udoh last week disclosed that it was now ready to apply appropriate sanctions against all persons found culpable in the December 10, 2016 church tragedy.
According to the statement, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has been mandated by Governor Emmanuel bring to justice all persons who actions and inactions, including professional incompetence led to the tragedy.
The statement read in part, “Following the collapse of the Reigners Church building in Uyo on December 10, 2016, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel constituted a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances which led to the unfortunate incident
and recommend measures to forestall future occurrence.
“After a detailed review of the Commission’s report, the Governor has set-in motion necessary machinery to implement the recommendations of the report.
“The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice have been mandated to commence the process of taking appropriate actions against all persons found culpable in the church building collapse.
“All cases of proven professional negligence will be dealt with decisively within the ambit of the law. Similarly, all verified outstanding bills for treatment of victims in the various hospitals in
Uyo have been fully paid up by the State Government.
The state government also expressed its profound appreciation of the support, understanding and patience demonstrated by the bereaved families, injured persons and the public during the period of investigation.
“Government also extends its gratitude to the various hospitals and clinics in Uyo that attended to victims promptly.
“While reiterating its avowed commitment to the protection of lives and properties, the Government of Akwa Ibom State once again commiserates with families of the victims of the Reigners Church building collapse and pray the Almighty God to comfort them”, the statement read.
However, since government gave the indication that it would apply appropriate sanctions against those found culpable in the unfortunate incident, tongues have continued to wag with many asking questions as to the kind of punitive measures it intends to apply.
Again, many people have queried the credibility of the report which obviously has not indicted the founder of the church, Akan Weeks who according to some experts and government officials had shunned all entreaties to prevent him from erecting the structure in the first place.
Government appointees including the information and strategy commissioner and the commissioner for justice and attorney general, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko have been very economical with the details of the kind of sanctions and who would be punished.
However, investigations by our correspondent reveal that engineers and supervisors of the collapsed church building would be prosecuted in court in addition to adequate sanctions from their professional bodies.
