How PDP supporters died collecting sallah gifts - TRIBUNE

• Written by  Biola Azeez - Ilorin
• Tuesday, 22 October 2013 00:00 

The fenced compound of a large bungalow belonging to the late political gladiator, Dr. Olusola Saraki, located in Ilofa GRA, popularly called Ile Loke or Ile Arugbo, had served for many years as a place where the late medical practitioner cum politician had met his followers on different social, political and campaign occasions during his lifetime.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered from leaders of the PDP in Kwara State that the house had been donated to the PDP after the death of Dr. Saraki last year. It was therefore re-christened Charity House.
The house is located directly opposite other fenced and separate buildings that serve as residence of late Olusola Saraki as well as his family members.
Supporters of the PDP had gathered at Charity House on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 to receive the usual largesse from the party hierarchy, chieftains and most importantly from the leader of PDP in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki and his wife, Toyin.
These goodies, which always include food items, cash, textiles, usually Ankara material, among other items, Nigerian Tribune gathered were meant to reward the party loyalists for their steadfastness.
However, the gathering of party supporters turned awry last Wednesday, the day after the Eid el Kabir festival, as they scrambled to get some of the gifts till about 8pm when it resulted into a stampede and causing the death of some people, mostly aged women. Others were injured and promptly taken to the Civil Service Clinic located near the Charity House. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the rowdy situation led to some people, particularly the aged, fainting and falling down, leading to their deaths.
There were conflicting figures of number of deaths, as the PDP authority said only four persons died, while some eyewitness accounts said the casualties were more than 10.
One of the eye witnesses, who spoke under a condition of anonymity, said that the sad occurrence just happened without any one around thinking it could be anything serious and deadly. “The people were many; they were struggling and scrambling for the wrappers. All of a sudden, some women fell down and they were later found to have died.
“We saw only two ambulances and one police patrol van taking the wounded and the dead outside the compound to the Civil Service Clinic there. The people will be about 10”, he said.
It was gathered that a similar incident had occurred during sallah celebration and presentation of political largesse in 2010, 2011 though at different venues.
Efforts made by the Nigerian Tribune to speak with the injured at the clinic proved abortive, as medical personnel refused to allow the reporter to enter the hospital premises.  Also, the officials at the state Ministry of Health refused to comment on the incident.
In a reaction, the Kwara State PDP publicity secretary, Masud Adebimpe, said, “the Peoples Democratic Party Kwara State Chapter held its annual Sallah celebration at PDP Charity House with many party faithful in attendance.
“The event which is an annual activity of the party went smoothly until the unfortunate incident of a stampede, which led to some people fainting and were immediately rushed to the hospital a few blocks from the venue.
“While some are currently responding positively to treatment, we however regret to announce that we lost four of our party members to the unfortunate development.
“Our prayers go to the families of the deceased and we wish a quick recovery to those that are responding fast to treatment.”
Among the dead was a pregnant woman from Atatalo Compound in Ilorin metropolis. Nigerian Tribune gathered from the neighbours of the deceased that it was her first time of visiting the house to partake in the collection of goodies from the political leader.
It was also gathered that the annual traditional homage by the Emir of Ilorin, who is also the Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Thursday was cancelled, due to the death of the PDP supporters.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that chairs, canopies and tables had been arranged for guests at the Government House, Ilorin, venue of the annual programme before the directive came that the event be cancelled.
Commenting on the incident, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bashiru Bolarinwa, lamented the death and blamed it on poverty.
“I am very sad at the stampede and the resultant deaths. Honestly, I do not know what is wrong with our people because what happened last night should be the third incidence of that nature that will be recorded that many people died.  It is unfortunate that people are yet to learn from the experience.  It appears to be a game plan of the Saraki family because they have succeeded in impoverishing these people and made them to come to them from time to time for pittance.
“It appears the death is spiritual, I pray God to take control because I believe wholeheartedly in God that he has command of everything and that He is omnipotent and that he has not created anybody that he has no control over. I ask, why were the materials distributed in the night and why were they not given to political leaders in each community for the people?
“But I think that on the whole what has been happening in the past is enough to teach our people a lesson and give them direction as to what to do.
“I will join several people who said that this incidence should be probed by the Federal Government. But I hope and pray that something positive should be able to come out of that. What is important is for our people to learn from what has been happening and to take precautions; that is the most important thing. If something had happened in the past and this is the third time it is happening, I think that is enough to teach them lessons.”
However, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Abdulawahab Oba, said that none of the newspapers that reported more than four deaths actually saw or went to the morgue to count the deceased, saying that only four people died and that those injured had been treated and discharged from the clinic.”
He also accused some members of the opposition of playing politics with the unfortunate incident, adding that the situation at hand called for a sober reflection in honour of the departed souls rather than playing to the gallery.
In his reaction, Dr. Bukola Saraki expressed sadness over the deaths.
A statement signed by him and made available to journalists in Ilorin reads: “I’m deeply saddened to receive the news about the loss of some of our party members who were stampeded after the Sallah festivities at the Charity House.
“Our party’s strength resides solely in the support from party faithful which gives us huge confidence always- it’s very painful to have lost these party faithful. I commiserate with the families of the deceased and pray that Allah grant us the strength to bear the loss and for those responding to treatment, I wish them speedy recovery. All other activities scheduled at the Charity House have been suspended till further notice as a mark of respect to the departed. We appreciate the prayers, support and condolences”, he said.