PRESS STATEMENT ON THE UKE ADORATION TRAGEDY:ANAMBRA PEOPLE SHOULD HOLD GOVERNOR PETER OBI RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE AVOIDABLE DEATHS. The attention of the Ngige Campaign Organization has been drawn to the Press Briefing by the Anambra State Governor Mr. Peter Obi and the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Vicotr Umeh in which both men blamed the APGA Midnight Church Campaign Stampede at Ukc that killed about 50 innocent people on Senator Chris Ngige supporters. APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh further recklessly called for the arrest of the All Progressive Congress Candidate, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige. It is rather unfortunate that the State Governor and APGA factional National Chairman chose to play politics with such a national tragedy in which they were both principal actors.To put the records straight and help these men regain perspective, the Holy Ghost (Ebube Muo Nso) Adoration Ground is purely a House of Prayers where traumatized Anambra people go to reconcile themselves with God and seek succor from pains inflicted on them by the poor governance in Anambra State. But Governor Peter Obi, APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh took their candidate in the Anambra Governorship Election Willie Obiano with their entire campaign in full campaign uniforms to the Prayer Ground to campaign. Governor Obi in his Statement inadvertently admitted that the Worshippers openly protested the attempt by Governor Peter Obi and the APGA Campaign Train to turn the prayer meeting into a campaign rally and there is no doubt it was the same protests by the Congregants that eventually culminated in this avoidable deaths caused by stampede.The statement credited to the Anambra State Government that the stampede which killed over 30 people was caused by the supporters of Senator Chris Ngige should therefore be disregarded as a tissue of lies that it is by the good people of Anambra State and Nigerians in general. One thing stands out clearly which can never be dimmed by any desperate campaign: this tragedy could have been avoided if the APGA campaign train did not visit the Adoration Ground at such ungodly hour to campaign for votes. Better still, if the Governor had heeded the protests of the congregants not to turn their prayer ground to a campaign rally. We gathered that it was the booing of Governor Peter Obi that angered the security personnel of the Governor to charge at the crowd when the Governor made his way out of the Prayer Ground. The Governor should not hold Senator Ngige responsible for his growing unpopularity and how the people choose to react to him whenever he appears in the Public. The Adoration Ground will not be the first place that Governor Obi would be booed by the people of Anambra, neither will it be last. He was booed at Onitsha Main Market when he ordered the closure of the Main Market to campaign for Chief Obiano. He was again booed at Awka Market and at many other places. We can also recall that on the Channels Television, the Governor had promised that something would be done soon to end booing by the people and we can now see the result of that promise with the Uke Adoration Campaign tragedy. We therefore condemn the attempt by Anambra State Government to shift the blame to the “So called Ngige supporters” as another cheap and desperate effort to cover up the heinous crime committed against fellow Anambrarians. We see this as part of the orchestrated desperate campaigns to drag the reputation of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress Senator Chris Ngige in the mud. This brazen attempt but Governor Obi has failed and will continue to fail. You will recall the same Government of Mr. Peter Obi claimed that Senator Chris Ngige slapped a Reverend Father. The same Priest that APGA Government, in bared-faced lie, claimed was slapped told the world that he was never attacked by Senator Ngige or his aides. We urge Governor Peter Obi to accept full responsibility for his callous actions and insensitivity and cease to indulge in an infantile blame game. More importantly, he should pray for God’s forgiveness and allow the Almighty to have His way in the forthcoming Governorship election. The Campaign Organization also understands that the Governor plans to institute an inquiry into the incident. This we also see as exercise in deception since evidence all gleaned from the Thousands of the Worshipers and the Host Priest are enough and the people already know what happened. If there must be an enquiry, credible human right Organizations should be allowed to do that. The desperation so far exhibited by the Governor calls to question, his sincerity in this regard. We urge Anambrarians not to be demoralized or intimidated by such desperate actions of the APGA. Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige has since condoled the metropolitan archbishop of the Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke and Adoration Ministries Rev Father-in-charge and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma over this most avoidable tragedy. He has equally paid a visit to the injured to wish them quick recovery and pledged to pick their medical bills. Finally the Senator Ngige Campaign Organization prays for the repose of the souls of these martyred victims of executive rascality and pray the Almighty God to grant the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. SIGNED: CHIEF DR. GEORGE MOGHALUDIRECTOR GENERAL
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 18:16:46 +0000