Wike averts Stampede at Rumuwoji Market Open Ballot

The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, Wednesday, averted a stampede which ensued following the call by the Secretary to the state government, Tammy Danagogo for interested bidders to step out of the crowd and pick their ballots.

Danagogo who was saddled with the responsibility of conducting the open ballot had stated that nine shops were up for grabs as part of the ceremony and that lucky winners would have their shops allotted during the commissioning.

He stated also that the ballot for the commissioning goes to thirty lucky bidders out of which only nine winners would emerged.

But when Tammy Danagogo announced that thirty interested bidders should step out to pick the ballot, every one at Commissioning wants to be on the ballot and commotion ensued.

Attempts to make the traders see reason for orderliness failed. The interested bidders also failed to hid the information that the ceremonial ballot was just to mark the day and the main balloting would take place after the government may have set up a committee to superintendent market. All would have their chances thereof.

The police and other security operatives used all the best tactics they know and failed to keep the crowd at bay. In the end, a hapless Danagogo and the police ran out of options to control the the crowd.

Therein, Wike steps in to avert the stampede which was threatening to collapse on him.

“I am now the INEC. All of you have been sacked. I want new bidders to pick the ballot papers.” Wike joked. “Go back.”

When the sack notice did not work, Wike tried another option which was to give the chance to traders sitting in the canopy.

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“All of you standing here have been sacked, I have said. I am going to call people sitting in the canopy and those sitting at the back to come and do the balloting.” he stated.

When that didn’t help either, the governor who is fondly called the talk and do governor, tried a last option by picking out traders from the crowd for the balloting and the situation was saved.

Twelve lucky traders pick by the governor took part in the ballot out of which, three traders won and had shops allotted to them.

Because of the stampede, six slots for ballots were suspended.

–Ibrahim Bakare, Editor-In-Chief www.towncrier.ng

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