APGA wants Ngige arrested!

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday called for the immediate arrest of Senator Chris Ngige over the stampede that led to the death of 25 worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground in Uke, Anambra State on Saturday.

He made this call shortly after Governor Peter Obi declared three days of mourning in honour of the victims of the incident.

Umeh, who stated this while addressing a press conference in Awka, said that it was evident that the incident was planned and executed by people linked to Ngige, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 16 governorship election in the state.

“The fact that people who infiltrated the arena carried brooms and his campaign posters and were chanting solidarity songs without any justification was an indication that he was behind it.

“I am calling on the Nigeria Police to immediately arrest Dr. Chris Ngige. We have lost 25 innocent souls in this state. So, it’s not something we will just make comment on and leave to lie like that. An action must be taken. Dr. Chris Ngige, whose people were there to do this should be arrested, particularly as he has started blaming APGA for the tragedy. He must make a statement on this,” Umeh said.

However, in a swift reaction, the Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation has warned Obi and APGA to leave Ngige out of the tragedy.

The Organisation in a statement in Awka, said that while it was grieved at the sad incident, “it is not prepared to play needless politics with the lives of innocent Ndi Anambra.”

The statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity in Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation, Chief Charles Amilo, the organisation warned Obi that blaming Ngige each time there was a tragedy in the state would certainly not work now.

“Senator Dr. Chris Ngige, neither attended the crusade, knew about it, nor received the report of the crusade in good time after the fact.

“Rather than throw feeble punches around, there should be an independent investigation on the matter,” Amilo said.

The governor had in a broadcast to the people of the state commiserated with the bereaved families and the Catholic Church over the Uke tragedy.

He insisted that he was officially invited to the vigil, made a speech at about midnight and left at 3am, three hours before the stampede occurred.

“I appeal to the good people of Anambra State to remain calm and prayerful as God, who has been with us all this while, will help us to overcome the present sad development so that we can continue the task of turning around our state,” he said.