Many dignitaries attending the rally in Minna, Niger State, for President Jonathan’s second term ambition, were injured as the podium accommodating them suddenly collapsed, midway into the programme.
Among the injured was Hajiya Jumai Babangida Aliyu, the wife of Governor Babangida Aliyu, the host governor.
The incident brought to an abrupt end the zonal rally in Nigeria’s north central, organised by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). The Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, deputy governor of Kogi,
Yomi Awoniyi and deputy governor of Sokoto, Muktar Shagari, the Secretary to the Federal government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, 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, 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 while the organisers continued to address a very scanty audience compared with the crowd before the collapse. Meanwhile, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has visited the injured at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna. “As the Chief host, the governor feels highly concerned on the sad incident during the rally.
“As usual with the Chief Servant (Aliyu), he is going round the hospitals to commiserate with our visitors. The medical bills will be footed by the state. “Some of the victims of the unfortunate incident have been discharged, while the others are still receiving treatment,” he said.
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