Dozens feared dead as Jonathan flags-off campaign in S/South •President expresses shock : source Nigeria Tribune

SOME persons were feared dead and many others injured during a stampede as jubilant supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia venue of the presidential campaign flag-off for the South-South zone.
The number of casualties was yet to be ascertained, but Police spokesperson in the state, Rita Inoma-Abbey (SP), confirmed the incident.
Abbey, however, did not confirm if any person was dead.
According to her, “those coming in were pushing and those exiting were pushing their way out. In the ensuing stampede, so many people fell down. The Police Mounted Troop (PMT) and other security agents contained the push by closing the main gate to rescue the victims”.
She added that some of the injured had been taken to the Police Clinic, Teme Clinic and the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the stampede happened immediately after the acting National Chairman of the party, Dr Bello Alihuru Muhamed, had presented PDP flags to Governors Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of River State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.
The supporters of the governors went into wild jubilation, singing victory songs while the police could not control the large crowd.
The ensuing scuffle, it was learnt, led to the collapse of some persons who were immediately rescued by security agents and rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has ordered full investigation into the incident, blaming the development on poor crowd control.
Earlier, President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, had promised to bring about transformational changes in the South-South if voted into office.
Jonathan said after the April election he would sit with the governors and opinion leaders from the region to evolve a concrete development plan for the area.
The President said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had begun a process of investing in the petrochemical industry in the region, saying that with the proposed PIB bill, the people of the region would be given a voice in the oil and gas sector.
In his speech, host governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi recalled that four years ago he was not allowed into the arena even when he won the party’s primary election for the governorship race.
He expressed optimism that the PDP would win at the presidential and governorship race in the state.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has received with shock and sadness news of the unfortunate loss of some lives in the stampede at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, “the president mourns with the families of the deceased and prays the Almighty to grant repose to their souls.”
The statement added that President Jonathan noted with a heavy heart, “that these are persons who came to celebrate his success at the primaries of the PDP, and wish him well in the coming elections.”
It quoted him as saying, “I am sad, and heavily weighed down by this incident. It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable. I mourn with those who mourn tonight. May God grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
The president has directed an investigation into the cause of the stampede.