The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the forth-coming governorship Election in Anambra state, Dr Chris Ngige has called for a full investigation into the Saturday stampede in which about 30 people were reported dead.
However, in a swift reaction, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh has called for the immediate arrest of Ngige accusing him of instigating the pandemonium that led to the death of the worshippers.
Umeh urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed
Abubakar to effect the immediate arrest of Senator Chris Ngige for his
role in the death of 28 worshippers at Holy Ghost Adoration Arena.
The APGA national chairman told newsmen in Awka that the police need to move for the arrest Ngige for instigating the pandemonium that ensued at the end of the crusade which left scores of people dead and many injured, wondering what Ngige’s supporters were doing at the crusade ground with their party symbols consisting of brooms and posters of Ngige.
He alleged that Ngige and his supporters orchestrated plot to cause confusion at the prayer ground in search of cheap propaganda.
According to Umeh: From what happened at the Holy Ghost Adoration ground it was obvious that this mayhem and pandemonium were carefully planned and executed by Dr Chris Ngige’s team. He has been very notorious for this type of antics. Having wasted about 25 human lives it will be so little to say that police
should come here and ask people questions.”
“Ngige should be immediately arrested because the signs were there that he
planned and executed this unfortunate tragedy for the fact that people who
infiltrated the arena carried his brooms and campaign posters and chanted
solidarity songs without any justification,’ Umeh said.
Meanwhile, the APC Candidate who paid a condolence visits to the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Onitsha Catholic Archdiocise Rev. Dr. Valerie Okeke and the Spritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre Uke, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Obima over the incident said such investigation must be independent of the state government.
Media reports have it that 28 worshipers lost their lives during the stampede that happened at the adoration ground at Uke, Udemili North Local Government area of the state last Saturday.
In a separate letters to the two Catholic clerics, Ngige, described the incident was most unfortunate especially when viewed from the standpoint that the innocent victims of the tragedy left their homes hale and hearty to go and get spiritual upliftment from the lord only for them to meet their untimely death.
While on a visit to three hospitals, Ngige announced a donation of N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) towards the cost of treatment of those still alive and receiving treatment in the three hospitals.
The APC candidate also seized the moment to talk at length with one of the beneficiaries, Miss Chiamaka Ikeora currently in stable condition.
He also empathized with the relations of the victims and other patients when he visited the injured at the various hospitals were they are receiving treatment.
Not less than 28 persons have so far been confirmed dead according to the management of Crown Hospital Nkpor, Onitsha, who disclosed that some of the bodies are in their morgue, while some are lying at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital and Immaculate Heart Hospital Nkpor, all in Onitsha.
