Nasarawa Stampede: PDP flays Nasarawa government over students’ death

From Daniel Abel, Lafia

Anger and condemnation have continued to pour in as residents and concerned citizens across the country have continue to heap blames on the state government and the university authority over the avoidable death of two students of the Nasarawa state University.

The opposition People’s Democratic party (PDP) in a statement blamed the sudden death of some students of Nasarawa state University Keffi on poor arrangements for the distribution of the palliative.

The party in a one-page statement issued and signed by its Chairman, Francis Orogu criticized the administration of governor Abdullahi Sule over what it described as insensitivity to the plight of the citizenry.

According to the statement, “PDP in Nasarawa state yesterday received with shock and grief the death of some students of the Nasarawa state University, Keffi steming from the stampede that occurred in the institution.

PDP did not only see the incident as unfortunate but unnecessary considering the fact that this avoidable incident would have been averted if proactive measures were taken by the authorities concerned to check abuse that could lead to unfortunate outcomes like the untimely demise of these students”.

The statement wondered why the authority concerned would embark on a distribution of palliative to a university community in the manner it did when there are well structured platforms such as departments, union and religious groups that would have handled this in an orderly manner.

“While grieving over the needless death of our dear students and others who sustained various degrees of injuries, our party, the PDP wishes to extend its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased students while praying for the quick recovery of others reportedly injured”.

“Yesterday’s Friday was a black and bleak one for us all as we woke up to the dreadful news of the unwarranted death of our leaders and custodians of our tomorrow (students) on account of distribution of palliative which we see as welcome development in the face of the hardship in the State.

“We are concerned and worried why the students should be subjected and made to meet their unfortunate and untimely death when there are well structured channels of reaching out to the students through enhanced scholarship, remittances to their banks in a university environment such as ours”.

“As a party, we join all well-meaning Nigerians, families, Nasarawa state University, Keffi Community, and the entire people of Nasarawa state to mourn and express our profound grief over the needless death of our dear students”,

“We extend our profound condolences to the families of these students who by no fault of theirs were made to end their existence on earth as a result of hardship and bad policies.

“This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our people. As a state, we must constantly remain proactive, committed to the yearnings and aspirations of our people, keep our state and the institutions of learning safe and secured for the benefit of all”, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule has expressed shock over the news of the stampede at the State University, Keffi which claimed lives of some students.

The governor described the incident as a misfortune which happened hours before the scheduled official flag off of palliatives distribution same morning was unfortunate