TAN Rally in MinnaSecretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, governors and ministers as well as other federal and state government officials managed to wriggle out of what would have been a disaster today at the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) rally in Minna, capital of Niger State.
This followed the collapse of a podium on which the top government officials were addressing the supporters of the President for the second term in office, being spearheaded by TAN. The podium, hurriedly constructed at the Trade Fair ground for the North Central rally of TAN, gave way while the ceremony was underway.
The podium caved in at about 11.53am, with a few minutes left for goodwill messages.
Some of the victims, who sustained injuries, were rushed to the IBB Specialist Hospital, General Hospital, Minna, Bay Clinic and Top Medical centre.
Among the injured included the wife of the Niger State Governor, Hajia Jumai Aliyu, and Director General, Public Affairs, Mallam Tanko Dada, who had a deep cut in his head.
Also injured, according to information, were Mallam Suleiman, Special Assistant to Governor Aliyu, who tried to rescue the Governor while an operative of the State Security Service allegedly broke his leg.
Several telephone sets were scattered on the floor after those who had close shave with death, fled the scene.
One of the victims, Ismail Gambo, said: “I thought it was a bomb blast; so I had to jump as much as I could but I realised I was trapped in the stand as so many people were scrambling for safety.”
However, Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, asked TAN not to be discouraged by the incident.
“This thing that happened should not deter you from doing what you came to do.”
Another victim, a journalist attached to TAN, said: “I was interviewing one of the top officials when the scaffold started giving way. I quickly headed for the stairs, but before I got there, the stand collapsed. I only sustained this minor injury. “
[myad]
