Posted by By Emma Una/Calabar on
Axes and machetes were used yesterday morning, to extricate the mangled bodies of eight PDP supporters from a bus that crashed on the outskirts of Calabar, while heading to the Cultural Centre grounds, for the re-election rally held for former governor, Liyel Imoke.
Axes and machetes were used yesterday morning, to extricate the mangled bodies of eight PDP supporters from a bus that crashed on the outskirts of Calabar, while heading to the Cultural Centre grounds, for the re-election rally held for former governor, Liyel Imoke.
The eight persons, travelling in a deep-blue 18-seater Cross Lines bus from Ekori in Yakkur Local Government Council of the state, were among the thousands of supporters transported from the 18 councils in the state to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to attend the grand finale of the PDP rally in support of Imoke for tomorrow's re-run election.
The accident, which occurred at Awi, a suburb of Calabar, an eye witness said, was caused by a burst tyre. The bus, he said, was at top speed when its tyre exploded and the bus veered off the road into the forest where it hit a tree.
'Though there was no rain, the grass was still wet from the rain that fell the previous night. When the tyre exploded, the driver panicked and applied the brakes and the bus skidded off the road into the wet grass which sent it slipping into the forest,' a farmer at the scene of the crash told P.M.News.
Apart from the eight victims that died on the spot, several other passengers sustained severe injuries and were taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where doctors are battling to save their lives.
A doctor at the casualty unit of the UCTH, who gave his name as Frank, said those who were 'brought here dead are now at the mortuary while those unconscious are being revived. We are doing our utmost best to save the lives of those with severe injuries.'
Ironically, no mention was made of the accident of the casualties by any of the speakers at the rally. Perhaps, they were not aware of the accident or they chose not to mention it in order not to spoil the day for the excited crowd.
Former governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke, who was appearing for the first time in a public function in the state since he vacated office 14 months ago, berated the opposition for their resort to the courts because of their inability to win elections in the field.
'They know they cannot win in the field. While we are here now, they are busy preparing their cases which they will present on Monday, after Imoke had won,' he said.
He said the opposition was taken for granted by Imoke, and that was what led to the cancellation of the April 14, 2007 governorship election that brought Imoke to power.
'We are now ready for them. Whereever they go this time we will follow them and ensure we preserve our mandate,' Duke told the crowd.
Vincent Ogbulafor, the National Chairman of the PDP, said the party was 'the way to heaven and if anyone wants to get to heaven, he should join the PDP.' He declared that PDP is going to be in charge of the reins of government for sixty years.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said that in 2011, in order to give the semblance of multi-party system in the country, PDP supporters will be made to run elections under some other platforms, and made to win.