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Tag: stampede

  • Anambra’s fatal stampede

    Anambra’s fatal stampede

    Governor Obi should blame himself for turning a religious  event into a potential rally

    The Holy Ghost Adoration Ground at Uke in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State has become famous as one of the major worship centres that attract thousands of adherents from within and outside the state to its weekly night vigil. Last Saturday, November 2, was no different as a large crowd converged at the venue to participate in the prayers and worship that characterise the spiritual retreat.

    The attendance, estimated at about 100,000, was reportedly higher than usual because that day was observed by the Catholic Church as the Feast of All Saints. It is indeed a sad irony that an event organised to enable believers pray for healing, deliverance from diverse problems and protection among other supplications ended in tragedy in the early hours of the morning when at least 28 worshippers lost their lives and scores of others were wounded during a stampede.

    Even as relatives mourn their lost ones and the wounded are still being tended, the tragedy has been unfortunately politicised. Allegations and counter-allegations have been made with politicians striving to reap electoral capital by pinning the blame on their opponents. True, the political atmosphere in Anambra State is tense, with the much anticipated and keenly contested governorship election slated for next Saturday. But then, this is no excuse for the behaviour of the political elite, which shows little respect for the memory of the dead or sensitivity to the feelings of the living.

    In their initial reactions to the tragedy, the various political actors demonstrated the requisite sense of decorum and sobriety appropriate on such a solemn occasion. The governor, Mr Peter Obi, as the Chief Security Officer of the state promptly visited the venue as well as the victims in various hospitals while also declaring three days of mourning. Equally commendable was the response of the various governorship candidates who issued condolence messages, visited the victims and even suspended their campaigns as a mark of honour to the dead and the bereaved.

    How then did things degenerate to the level of recriminations and mud-slinging? It is our view that Governor Obi cannot extricate himself from blame for this situation. Mr Obi demonstrated a poor sense of judgement when, in a broadcast to the state, he categorically blamed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Chris Ngige, as being responsible for the incident. The governor claimed that as he was addressing the congregation, supporters of Dr. Ngige interrupted him by chanting their candidate’s name as well as waving their party symbol and posters of the APC candidate. This was thus the basis for his conclusion as regards Ngige’s alleged culpability.

    Since Mr Obi had directed security agencies to ensure that the culprits were brought to book as well as announcing his decision to set up a panel of inquiry to unearth the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy, he should not have arrived at a pre-emptive conclusion on the issue. At best, he should have made his representations to those who have the professional competence and detachment to carry out an objective investigation. As it is now, any panel set up by the governor may face a credibility challenge as it may find it difficult to arrive at a decision different from that already expressed by its creator, Mr Obi.

    Even then, the account rendered by Mr Obi in his broadcast raises several pertinent issues. The governor never said that Dr. Ngige was at the venue. How then can the APC candidate be held liable for the alleged actions of his purported supporters? In fact, it is the presence and role of Mr Obi at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground that night that should invite further inquiry. For instance, the governor attended a purely religious occasion in company with his party chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and the governorship candidate, Chief Willie Obiano. Furthermore, he was reportedly dressed in his party’s campaign outfit for a night vigil. Was he there to campaign or to pray?

    Again, when he was given the opportunity to address the congregation the governor promised to sponsor 20 indigent people from among the faithful on pilgrimage as well as provide access road to the premises. Now, how are these remarks by the governor different from that of a politician campaigning for votes? Could that not irritate and provoke members of the congregation who are of a different political persuasion?

    It has become customary for occupants of public office to be given the opportunity to make remarks at purely religious events. While this is a mark of respect to their offices, the Anambra State tragedy shows that this gesture could easily be abused with counterproductive consequences. Public officers who attend religious occasions should do so in their private capacity and should not be given any special privileges. While we join the government and people of Anambra in mourning the dead, we urge that everything be done to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

  • Hold Obi responsible for Uke stampede, says APC

    Hold Obi responsible for Uke stampede, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra 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 in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said had 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 governor going to a vigil, such visit should not be impromptu in order for the organisers to make the necessary security arrangements, and it should also not be a licence to engage in political campaign.

    The APC condemned the plan by 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 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 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 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

     

  • Ilorin stampede

    Ilorin stampede

    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.