The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar and the national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, have visited the party’s faithful in Plateau State who were involved in a car crash while returning a political campaign rally.
Atiku, Ayu and other stalwarts were led to the accident and emergency unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) by the Plateau State governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, where they met the victims, sympathised with and prayed for their quick recovery.
It was gathered that both Atiku and Ayu donated N40 million to the victims.
It was also learnt that Atiku and his team were visited the former governor of the state, Mr. Jonah Jang as well as Mishkaham Mwaghavul, Daa John Putmang Hirse, to commiserate with them on the tragic incident.
Recall that 16 persons died while 83 others sustained injuries when a truck conveying the party’s supporters crashed near Panyam, Mangu local government area of the state.
A statement by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said: “A fatal accident happened on January 14, on the Pankshin/Jos Road, about 5pm.
“It was a lone crash involving a truck conveying people from a Plateau Central political campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The number of people involved was 99 – 16 persons died and 83 others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to hospitals in Panyam and Mangu town, both in Mangu council, while the bodies were deposited at Mangu General Hospital, Panyam General Hospital, and Nissi Private Hospital.
“The accident was the result of excessive speed and overloading, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
“The FRSC advises motorists to use vehicles strictly for the purpose they were made for, maintain safe speed, install speed limits and ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles.”
Meanwhile, Mutfwang and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nantewa Yalwtida in the state suspended their campaign activities to honour the deceased.
A statement by the spokesman for the Atiku-Okowa/Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council, Mr. Yiljap Abraham reads: “In further demonstration of his grief and as a mark of honour to PDP members who were involved in an accident on Saturday, the PDP governorship candidate, Caleb Mutfwang, has suspended all campaign activities with immediate effect.
“The candidate has also asked that intense prayers be offered for divine comfort for families and individuals who are bereaved and healing of the injured. The dead will ever remain fresh in the memories of party members and admirers as they are lifted up as heroes of democracy.”
Also spokesman for the Generation Next Campaign Council of the APC, Mr. Shittu Bamaiyi, said the governorship candidate, Mr. Nantewa Yalwtida, has canceled the campaign tour for three days to honour the deceased.
Bamaiyi said the suspension became necessary to allow him and members of his party join the PDP to mourn the victims.
