PORT HARCOURT STAMPEDE: DELTA TO CATER FOR VICTIMS FAMILIES, SAYS UDUAGHAN

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday, described the death of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a stampede at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt as a supreme sacrifice for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

The governor, who spoke in Ughelli, Delta State, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of one of the victims, who was resident in Ughelli, Mrs. Victoria Okodaso, popularly known as 'Madam Ohwo', said the PDP would take care of the cost of the burial ceremony and upkeep of the children she left behind.

'The state government will assist the children until they stand on their own. I know that Mrs. Okodaso was the breadwinner of the family and we will make sure that she did not die in vain,' Governor Uduaghan said.

Uduaghan who said he was condoling with the family of the late Mrs. Okodaso on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, the state government and the PDP family, said the deceased was a committed party loyalist.

He said: 'When Mr. President had made his speech and we were coming out, we noticed that there had been an accident outside; little did we know that Mrs. Okodaso was part of it.

'We had no reason to question God, we would have asked, why this woman who had gone to Port Harcourt to be part of history? When she was going, it was not this kind of history that she wanted to be part of but God knows best. It could have been worse. I know our sister, Faith Majemite, God also saved her life because she was also gone half way but God said no. I know some members of the National Assembly who were also almost gone but God brought them back to life. So, we thank God because it could have been worse.

'For many of us who were in Port Harcourt who saw what happened; for many of us who saw the enthusiasm with which President Goodluck Jonathan was received; for many of us who watched the PDP flag being given to the PDP candidates, the later event was like an anti-climax of a day that would have been very glorious in the history of the South-south,' Dr. Uduaghan said.

He disclosed that he shelved his trip to Katsina because of the deceased's death and enjoined the family not to question God, especially as God was all knowing.

The deceased's son, Master Ruben Okodaso, thanked the governor for the visit and said the mother's death shocked them.