Avoiding tragic stampedes

NIGERIANS were given a timely reminder recently to stop mixing politics with religion when 28 people tragically lost their lives during a stampede at a vigil organised by the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry in Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State. The weekly crusade, which is usually attended by thousands of Catholic faithful, was turned to a political platform by some politicians ahead of the November 16 governorship poll. It was reported that although the crusade usually witnessed a large turnout of
worshippers, the crowd at the November 1 edition was unusually large because it was announced that Governor Peter Obi would attend. The resulting tension degenerated into a stampede, with 28 persons trampled to death and many others injured. It is ironic that the church allowed a religious gathering where many beleaguered souls run to for succour, to seek escape from the crushing socio-economic conditions fostered by bad governance, to become a place of death. What a contradiction!

As sad as the tragedy is, the authorities have not taken any concrete steps to address the points at issue in order to prevent a recurrence. Instead, the political class engaged in the blame game, perhaps, focusing only on the governorship poll. Obi quickly blamed the disaster on the supporters of a rival governorship contestant for igniting the mayhem by allegedly waving the symbol of their party at the church ground. The affected candidate – Chris Ngige – disagreed, saying he was not even present at the venue of the disaster. The truth is somewhere in-between. Obi reportedly used the vigil to campaign for his party’s candidate when he was told to address the worshippers, though some of them started displaying the symbol of a rival party.

Although a stampede can happen at any venue where there is a large crowd, the church is a major culprit in the disaster that occurred in Uke. Churches in Nigeria appear to have neglected their main role of spreading the gospel. Rather, they often collaborate with dubious politicians that brazenly mismanage the resources of the country. The sacrilege that happened when the Adoration Ministry officials yielded the pulpit to Obi to allegedly campaign for the state governorship election is not limited to that church. Although it is clearly wrong, it is commonplace to see our clerics allowing politicians and other characters to speak from the pulpit.

Why would a minister of God give special recognition to the President, governor or politician, who comes to church with a retinue of aides, and in the process, disrupts worship?  Often, when these tainted politicians go to such events, traffic grinds to a standstill as their overzealous security operatives maltreat other road users. Following the Uke tragedy, Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, South-East, said, “The church should steer clear of partisan politics… It is wrong to come to the church and begin to talk about manifestoes and (or) begin to campaign. We appeal to clergymen to avoid politicians coming to use churches as campaign arena.” He hit the nail on the head.

Similarly, Israel Kristilere, a clergyman, warned, “Men of God should not be seen hobnobbing with, or praying for corrupt leaders. It is time for men of God to preach the truth, and not to take money from corrupt politicians to build gigantic churches.” While not discouraging politicians – or indeed anybody – from the church, politicians should not be granted special status by clerics; politicians should go in and out quietly like other members and should seek prayers privately for their endeavours if they so desire.

To prevent future tragedies at religious and political gatherings – like the recent one during the last Eid-el-Kabir festival in Ilorin, Kwara State, in which about 20 people died during a stampede – adequate safety and security arrangements must be made by religious and political organisations. It is a moot point, but it is possible that there were no ambulances at the Adoration ground when the incident happened. Religious services that cater for large crowds should provide this facility in case of emergencies as well as easily recognised multiple exit points. Religious organisations have to train their personnel in crowd management, especially in large gatherings where there are aged people and children. This is how it is done in places such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where there are strict rules on the number of security agents that should be available before a permit is granted for religious, entertainment and sporting events. Faith-based organisations cannot operate outside the law.

Religion and ethnicity have been used for too long to deceive Nigerians. Politicians should ask themselves why Nigerians are flocking to religious events nowadays. The simple answer is the corruption that has made government to fail. Basic social infrastructure is lacking, unemployment is rife at 23.9 per cent and a high percentage of the populace wallow in hunger and poverty. The struggle of the populace to live a better life cannot be achieved if religious bodies continue to treat the same politicians who have stolen the nation blind and are the major cause of the despair in the land, like saints. However, an independent panel of enquiry must be instituted into the Uke tragedy with a view to ending such disasters, while those found guilty must face the full weight of the law for their actions or negligence.