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Nwifuru, Egwu, others mourn
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East, on Thursday, cancelled an elaborate birthday party for the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, following the stampede that occurred in Ibadan on Wednesday during the Christmas carnival, which led to the death of many children.
The event was organised by the embattled National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East, Chief Ali Odefa.
PDP bigwigs from the South East and beyond, and many prominent Igbo leaders, including former Senate President, Aldous Wabara, former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Ben Obi, former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, former Anambra PDP governorship candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, and many other prominent Igbo sons and daughters, had gathered at Re-Meritona Hotel, Abakaliki, for the birthday lecture of Makinde, which was to be delivered by Professor Ben Obi, when the former governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, took the microphone and announced the cancellation of the event.
Egwu described the stampede as tragic, saying that there was no way the celebration could go on when the nation was in a mourning mood over the incident.
He prayed God to console the parents of the children, Oyo State, and the nation in general over the tragedy.
“The Governor of Oyo State, but unfortunately, we can see he is not here with us. Together with the post-governor, our own Governor-General, this is because of the unfortunate incident that happened yesterday.
“You must have all heard that more than 30 to 40 children lost their lives due to a stampede that took place yesterday in Oyo.
“Because of a function, a student function that was organised because of the Christmas activity. Unfortunately, there was a stampede, and as I am talking to you, more than 40 children have been confirmed dead. And their bodies are still in critical condition.
“So because of what has happened, the celebrants and the groups are not here. And we, as leaders, in consultation with Chief Odefa and his wife, have decided to cancel the function. It would not be right to be having a function when the Chief celebrant, the person from which we have made it, is mourning.
“It is also not right that parents who lost their children are mourning and crying, and we are here celebrating some of it. And because of that, we feel that people who lost their lives are Nigerians. The parents of these children are mourning. Nigerians are mourning. And our brother, of whom we are here, is also mourning. We want to mourn with him.
“We want to mourn with the people, the government of Oyo State. Because the Bible says when your brother is mourning, you should do what? Mourn with him. So, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is because of this that we have decided that this function has to be cancelled temporarily until further notice.
“I wish to appreciate all of you who are here, but you see what has happened is beyond our control. And as people who have sympathy for our fellow human beings, we have decided to stand this down.
“On this note, I want to thank you for coming. As I leave here, the Chief Organiser will come to speak to us because he is the one that has put this together to honour his friend and our friend. But before then, can we all stand up for one minute’s silence in honour of the people who have lost their lives,” Egwu said.
Odefa told the mammoth crowd that Makinde had prepared to attend the birthday celebration and had sent an advance team to the state, only for the tragedy to occur.
“My friend has prepared to come here and be with us today. In fact, he sent an advance team two days ago. The advance team has been here, the chief of staff has been here two days ago.
“But when this incident happened, there’s no way a state will be mourning. Some families, because of this incident, do not know the meaning of Christmas anymore.
“They cannot be crying while we are dancing and rejoicing. So, it is painful, it is sad, but that’s the reality. The leaders have met.
“If you look at this place, you see that this is a gathering of Igbo leaders, non-partisan. We are not talking about party A or party B. These are a collection of Igbo leaders here sitting. So, we have decided, like our leader said, to cancel the event for today and shift it for another time.
“We will tell you the date when that one has been fixed. And we’ll make efforts to bring all of you together again. Particularly, this beautiful colour group. They would have given you some rendition that you will remember in a long time. A round of applause to them.
“So, I want to appreciate everybody that has left whatever you were doing to be present here today. I cannot thank you enough. All these leaders, they have one thing or the other they would have been doing in their various places,” he stated.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Emmanuel Echiegu, expressed shock at the stampede.