Tragedy: 11 dead at Jonathan’s campaign rally…more than 29 wounded
President Jonathan and VP Sambo
At least 11 people were trampled to death on Saturday in a stampede at an election campaign rally for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt.
Thousands of ruling party supporters crowded into a sports stadium to hear Jonathan speak and hundreds more gathered around the gates. There was a stampede after a policeman fired into the air to try to disperse the crush as people left, witnesses said.
“I can see the bodies of three women,” one witness, Tonye Ben, told Reuters as he tried to escape the pandemonium.
The health commissioner of Rivers state, of which Port Harcourt is the capital, told reporters 11 people were killed.
Tragedy Spot: Shoes littering the venue of protest
Members of the security forces helped many casualties lifting them up and carrying them into waiting pick-up trucks to to be taken to hospital emergency departments.
Hundreds of discarded shoes and pieces of clothings littered the ground where people had struggled to free themselves from the stampede.
PDP
Jonathan said he was shocked at the loss of life and ordered an immediate investigation.
“I am sad and heavily weighed down by this incident. It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable. I mourn with those who mourn tonight,” he said in a statement.
Police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed that several people had collapsed and been taken to hospital but could not immediately give a death toll.
“There was a huge crowd, the place was completely full,” Ken Saro-Wiwa, Jonathan’s special assistant on international affairs, told Reuters.
“As the convoys were leaving, more people were trying to come in and there was a stampede when the gates were opened … It is a sad end to what had been a great day,” he said.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Port Harcourt came at the end of a week-long tour by Jonathan of the six main regions in Africa’s most populous nation ahead of presidential, parliamentary and state governorship elections in April.
Jonathan is the first head of state from the Niger Delta, of which Port Harcourt is the main city, and is considered the front-runner in the presidential race.
Political rallies in Nigeria often draw crowds beyond the party faithful, many attracted by the promise of free handouts such as campaign T-shirts and baseball caps, leaving the police and security forces struggling to maintain order.
About 22 opposition parties who have confidence in President Jonathan have declared intentions to adopt him as their presidential candidate in the coming election, a factor that drew so many crowd to the rally as a multi party presidential candidate.
APGA, one of Nigeria ‘s influential opposition parties which almost is dominating the campaign area announced at the commencement of political campaign that it has stamped the president, sanctioning him as the party’s presidential candidate in the coming election.
Apart from APGA, multi parties under the aegis of Patriotic Electoral Alliance of Nigeria (PEAN), had during Mr Jonathan’s campaign rally in Lafia declared support for his candidacy.
They were represented by the national chairman of the Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) and vice chairman of PEAN, Shittu Mohammed.
The parties are MPPP, PPP, NMPP, APN,RPN, NMDP, LDPN, AD, NPC, AA, MRDD, ND, CPP, MMN, UNPD, UDP, DPA, CAP, MDJ, ACD and Accord Party.
An announcement by the multi party had declared in Abuja:“Having considered all the presidential candidates that emerged in the recent primaries and conventions of their political parties, PEAN is satisfied that only Jonathan-Sambo ticket has the best manifesto, blueprint and programme to take the nation to the next level of development and prosperity,”
Source: Reuters
Jonathan’s face of a true Nigerian
By Elizabeth Archibong
As President Gooodluck Jonathan officially launches his state campaign tour, all eyes will be on his style of dressing. This is because it has been the tradition of the president to always identify with his hosts through their traditional attires during his state visits.
Apart from such instances where the President has been seen dressed in other Nigerian attires, his traditional Niger Delta attire has been seen by many as his trademark.
While the president’s peculiar dress code has drawn both criticism and admiration, the man behind his wardrobe describes him as a marketer of his culture through his customary use of the native Ijaw attire.
Looking at the dress code of past Nigerian leaders, it could be seen that Mr Jonathan is not the first to dress consistently in the traditional attire of his ethnic group.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo was always in ‘agbada’ and the traditional Yoruba cap. Shehu Shagari and the late Umar Musa Yar’Adua were always in ‘bab
anriga’ and cap, a common dress in northern Nigeria. Fashion analysts say that this trend may be indicative of the quest for acceptance and a statement of their identity as Nigerians and solidarity with their own personal ethnic groups.
Prince Oyefusi, Chief Executive of NobelAfrik believes that the leaders are trying to identify with their ethnic groups.
The president’s official clothier, Ebi Spiff, adds said: “That is his official uniform; portraying his culture anyone on that level should not wear things like the British attire.” Mr Spiff, in a telephone conversation with NEXT, said, dark colours appeal to the president and explained he selects what the country’s number one citizen wears. “To choose his clothes, I have to consider his mood and the occasion. He likes dark colours and they bring out his shade.” Explaining the difference between the types of Niger Delta attires used by the President, Mr Spiff said there are two kinds.
“The one with the three buttons is called Woko (jumper) while the other is called Etibo (which is casual), but the one the president wears more often is the Woko,” he said.
As the country awaits the different looks of the president during his nationwide tour, he will certainly give up his trademark for most of the days of the tour. Who knows, we may even see him in a three piece suit.
Source: Next
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