In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said it is imperative for the Anambra State governor to immediately set up a structure and work out transparent mechanism for the payment of proper financial compensation to surviving relatives of all the 28 worshippers that reportedly died in the stampede.
The group said it has lost confidence in the neutrality of the Anambra State government to set up a probe panel hence urged the National Human Rights Commission to step in and begin independent and comprehensive probe of the entire circumstances surrounding the stampede.
The Rights group said posterity and history will be harsh on Governor Peter Obi and Anambra opposition politicians should they continue to play politics and engaging in meaningless media warfare with the loss of lives of citizens and fail to objectively probe and determine to its finality, the causes of the incident.
The group stated that since the bulk stops at the table of the executive governor, Mr. Peter Obi has no choice but to tender unreserved apology to Anambra State people for the numerous flaws and miscalculations that occasioned the stampede and show the open determination of his administration to put all the necessary structures and measures in place to avoid a repeat of such a calamity in the near future.
Reminding Anambra state government of its constitutional obligation to protect lives and property of its citizenry, HURIWA also called on state governments in the country to compel religious bodies to only conduct their services in venues that are safe and conducive to avoid the repeat of the Uke Anambra deadly stampede.
