The Cross River State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the state Governor, Ben Ayade for his insensitive response towards the tragic incident where many lives were lost on Tuesday, 27th, December, during the Calabar Carnival.
The state chairman of the party, Barrister Vena Ikem, expressed outrage over the decision of Governor to proceed with the Calabar Carnival despite the road carnage which marred the Biker’s Carnival yesterday.
The State Chairman while exchanging views with journalists said the “singular action tantamount to rubbing salt on injuries”
According to him, the singular action of Governor Ben Ayade to go ahead with the remaining schedules of the 2022 Calabar Carnival beginning from the Beauty Pageant which he personally attended smacks of insensitivity to the mood and plight of the people. Indeed, we have been vindicated in our rating of Ayade’s government as inhuman,uncouth and unperturbed by the sufferings of the masses.
” It is unthinkable that a leader can proceed to a jamboree where he was seen beaming with smiles and cheering Miss Africa Beauty Pageant contestants after the bloody incident which claimed about fifteen lives just couple of hours ago”
“Apart from mobilizing the Police against his own people in Cross River North over land matters and political differences , Ayade can not handle any other thing worthy of note successfully”
Ikem maintained that the disaster could have been averted if standard best practices were applicable in the event especially with regard to crowd and vehicular traffic control as well as the physiological state of the participants
While cautioning members of the public to be weary of attending subsequent event under the Ayade led government, Barrister Ikem condoled with affected families and urged them to take solace in God Almighty.
Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate Senator Sandy Onor has expressed his condolences to bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the Calabar Carnival mishap.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.