Rally Leaves Many Dead

On Saturday morning, many were left dead, after being trampled over at an election campaign rally. In Port Harcourt Saturday morning, a group of Nigerians were getting together to listen to Goodluck Jonathan speak on his campaign tour. The stampede occurred after a policeman fired his gun into the air, as thousands of people in the stadium ran out fearing for their lives. The number of casualties is unknown at the moment. At least three women have been declared dead on the scene. Some fear that as many as ten people could have died from this stampede. President Goodluck Jonathan has spoken out since the incident, saying "I am sad, and heavily weighed down by this incident. It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable." He has also begun a full investigation on the incident, as well as postponed his campaigning until something is done. Witnesses say the gunshot was fired to control the rush through the small gate into the stadium. This created a panic among the people, which began to run and start the stampede. Because Goodluck Jonathan is Christian, and most of the recent violence has been over the upcoming election, many people were scared that the gunshots were coming from the Muslims who were out to kill as many Christians possible.

This shows the fear the religious cleavages have given the citizens of Nigeria. The fact that they feel as if they cannot even support something or someone they feel passionate about without the fear of dying. As well as the fact, that a gunshot from a policeman can set off such a commotion as it did, which resulted in at least three, if not more dead. This can also be an insight to the power of the police in Nigeria. The fact that a policeman could set off a shot which could end up killing at least three, and still not have gotten in trouble, this shows the type of power the police have. One positive to the incident, is the reaction from Goodluck Jonathan. He has halted all things he is involved in, to make sure justice is served, and the families of the ones who died are taken care of. This shows the his character and personality. The traits he seems to have are all traits of someone who is needed to rule a country with as many problems as Nigeria has, it shows he is willing to put his countrymen before himself.