The North Central rally of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN)
to garner support for President Goodluck Jonathan second term ambition
nearly ended abruptly on Saturday in Minna when the stand
accommodating dignitaries collapsed leaving many people injured.
The programme was mid-way when at about 11:05am the stand carved in
and dignitaries, protocol officers scampered for safety.
The Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, deputy governors
of Kogi and Sokoton Yomi Awoniyi and Muktar Shagari, the Secretary to
the Federal government, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, Senator, Ministers of
Information, Water Resources, Internal Affairs, National Planning and
Minister of State FCT were among the dignitaries on the stand.
But the wife of Niger State governor, Hajiya Jumai Babangida Aliyu,
her protocol officer, the Senator-Elect for Niger East Senatorial
zone, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, Director General of Protocol, Captain M.
Baro, Director General Public Affairs, Alhaji Tanko dada, some
protocol and detail officers attached to some dignitaries were not
lucky. They sustained various degrees of injuries.
The affected persons were rushed in National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) ambulances to a Bay Clinic ( a private hospital) and
General Hospital in Minna.
The development forced many delegates to head for their vehicles and
returned while the organisers continued to address a very scanty
audience compared with the crowd before the collapse.
Efforts to get the number of victims failed as calls to NEMA officials
could not be reached, while government officials were not forth
coming.
The Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu in his address
said that the incident should be regarded as a sacrifice and a sign
of success and victory for President Jonathan.
He however thanked God for minimising the havoc to injuries sustained
by few personalities.
No comments:
Post a Comment