•Nwifuru, Egwu, others mourn
The South East chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cancelled the elaborate birthday party planned for Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, following the stampede that occurred in Ibadan on Wednesday during Christmas carnival, which led to the death of many children.
The birthday bash organised by the embattled National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East, Chief Ali Odefa, attracted bigwigs from South East and beyond and many prominent Igbo leaders, including former Senate President, Adolpus 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 other prominent Igbo sons and daughters. They had gathered at Re-Meritona Hotel, Abakaliki, for the birthday lecture which was to be delivered by Professor Obi, when former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, picked the microphone and announced the cancellation of the event.
Egwu described the stampede as tragic, saying there was no way the celebration would hold when the nation was in mourning. He prayed God to console parents of the children, Oyo State and the nation in general.
“You must have all heard that more than 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 as part of the Christmas activities. Unfortunately, there was a stampede, and as I am talking to you, more than 40 children have been confirmed dead.
“So, because of what has happened, the celebrant 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 for which we have made it, is mourning,” Egwu said.
Odefa told the crowd that Makinde had prepared to attend the event and had sent an advance team to the state only for the tragedy to occur.
“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 to another time,” he stated.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Emmanuel Echiegu, expressed shock over the stampede.
