The Ngige Campaign Organisation has described the claims by Governor Peter Obi and the APGA National Chairman, blaming it for the Anambra church stampede as an orchestrated lie.
At a meeting with journalists in Awka, the state capital, on Monday November 4, the organisation dismissed the validity of Governor Obi’s claims and also questioned his credibility in setting up an inquiry into the incident.
The statement by the organisation read, “It is rather most unfortunate that the State Governor and the APGA National Factional Chairman chose to play politics with such a national tragedy in which they were both principal actors.”
“The statement credited to the Anambra State Government that the stampede which killed over 30 persons was caused by the supporters of Dr. 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 an ungodly hour to campaign for votes.”
“The Governor should not hold Senator Chris Ngige responsible for his growing unpopularity, and how the people choose to react to him whenever he appears in public.”
The Governor had in his state wide broadcast on Sunday, mentioned the presence of a group of people “located in 3 different spots who started shouting the name of a gubernatorial candidate, Dr Chris Ngige and waving the brooms of All Progressives Congress and pictures of the same candidate” when he was called by the presiding priest to speak to the people.
He also claimed that he left the crusade ground at 3:00am, local time, whereas the incident took place at 5:00am.
