Jonathan suspends campaign over Rivers tragedy

234NEXT

14 Feb 2011

Jonathan suspends campaign over Rivers tragedy

The campaign team of the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan has decided to put off his state campaign for two days, in honour of those who died during the South-South Zone campaign in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

At the sports stadium in Port Harcourt, venue of the rally, about 16 people reportedly died and many wounded from a stampede when a police officer fired sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd.

The presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro yesterday stated that the postponement of the second phase of the campaign, which was to start in Borno and Yobe today, "is to honour the victims of Saturday's tragic stampede during the campaign in Port Harcourt." In honouring the dead, Mr Jonathan had, on Saturday after the tragedy, also postponed the inauguration of the new Goodluck/Sambo campaign council which was billed to take place on the same day.

The Senate President, David Mark yesterday sympathised with Mr. Jonathan, the government and people of Rivers state as well as the affected families.

He also reiterated the need for free, fair and credible polls in April stating that this will immortalise those who died during the rally.

"We are resolutely committed to free, fair and acceptable elections in April. We must not deviate from this path. That is the only way we can immortalise the death of our party members, so that their death will not be in vain" he said.