By Joseph Atainyang
December 10, 2016 has become a big date in the history of Akwa
Ibom State. It is a date many shall, in future hold at heart as a day of
sorrow. As saddening as sadness as it was, the experience of Church collapse of
the Reigners Bible Church will remain eternal in the hearts of man. It shall be
there just as fresh as instant wound, and pains and lament shall abide.
This Sunday, December 10, 2017 marks the first anniversary of
the 'Doom's Day Conspiracy' which some human forces brought to us. It marks
exactly one year as the black Saturday of December 10, 2016 was engraved in our
minds. We shall stay alive and reflect on this wanton loss of precious human
souls, as innocent as a day-old-baby as they were. We shall mourn and eternally
weep on this day. But yet, we shall thank the God of heaven and of earth who
saved our state from a height of divine fury, for it was the day our Governor
escaped death.
Twisting history is not an achievement. Twisting facts and
figures of events and happenings in our state is no gain. Even if the whole
world perished in that mortal drain, it seems to me that people would still
lie, telling their lies and getting their rewards. Of course, nothing is new
under the sun. Even some folks had long in other ages been paid fat sum of money
to tell lies that Jesus did not resurrect but that his corpse was 'stolen' at
night by his disciples.
Joseph Atainyang was in shock. Of course, not lonely was he on
this path, many were. And so, dumbfounded he became until the magic season came
and gone. He told no story of the crime, though he heard all stories from all
wings. He boxed himself to a corner weeping for the loss of countless innocent
souls. But sure, the gloom had it's taint of joyous mood, he was thanking God
for his Deacon Governor, for the story, at least would not be the same, had the
first citizen got pinned.
It was the Bishopric enthronement of the Founder and General
Overseer of the Reigners Bible Church, Apostle Akan Weeks. That sullen Saturday
was a sad day. A day rejected in history, but a day much valued in memory. It
came with a smile, very innocently gentle. There was no sun in the sky. It was
as moody as a monody. The dirge was being rehearsed in the junction of
melancholy, and happiness was subdued by sorrow.
Just about past 11 in the morning, some gory shots started
filtering into the social media space. We were told of the Church collapse and
that the Governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was there. It sounded first
like a lie, but when repeated post kept flickering, it was unfortunately very
true. People rushed to contact their known and loved ones who had prepared to
attend the event. Once they could hear them on phone, they took their deep
breathe.
Innocent souls died like ants. Prominent people lost their
lives. The academia was greatly affected. The old, the young and the infant
were equally trapped. Many have come to say that the Reigners' Church collapse
was a harvest of blood. Choristers sang and went away. Some university students
were drained in the bloody encounter and parents became childless while
children became orphans.
Some of my colleagues at the event became casualties at
heightened proportions. One actually belonged in the long list of instant
travellers who met the Lord in the air. Some were rushed for treatment and
actually survived. But sadness became a king in the Land of Promise. Sorrow
enveloped the atmosphere. Squeezed and mutilated bodies of children were packed
into vans for disposal. The Land of promise became the land of horror. Yet, a
rescue mission by the Akwa Ibom State Government actually yielded positively as
many lives were resuscitated.
Condolences rang like melodious tune. It came from President
Muhammadu Buhari, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. It came from relevant agencies and personalities within
and outside the country. It reminded me of the horror that slaughtered millions
of human lives in Hiroshima, when the nuclear weapons got launched during the
world wars. Lives and property got evenly disposed.
Upon what initially seemed unknown, the Governor of Akwa Ibom
State who was himself an eyewitness of the gory incident, set up a commission
of inquiry to investigate the situation. The commission chaired by retired
Justice Umoekoyo Essang, had as members, the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Akwa
Ibom State chapter, representatives of the Police and other stakeholders in the
building industry as well as the religious bodies. Other members of the
commission were: Mr James Utiaruk, Essien Nkanga, Rev. John Linus, Engr. Asuquo
Okon, Engr. James Amiang, ACP Abiobo and Secretary of the Commission, Emem
Daniel.
During investigations which were witnessed by members of the
media, it was discovered that the Uyo Capital City Development Agency (UCCDA)
had marked ‘stop work’ severally on the Reigners Church on-construction
auditorium. But unfortunately, the General Overseer, Mr. Akan Weeks has
allegedly bribed the agency with N100,000. We were told how Mr. Weeks, in a bid
to create additional space to accommodate guests at the event, reportedly
ordered the removal of the central scaffold which the roof hitherto rested on.
We were also told by UCCDA that the state government did not
provide funds, security and equipments for demolition of structures on Uyo
Village Road. This on its own had been a good defense for the agency against
any accusation of gross irresponsibility. Of course, the state government
cannot be faulted as having been in connivance with the Church authority simply
because it did not provide the necessary funding for the demolition of the
structure. This is so because it could be said that demolition is always
periodically carried out and with specific targets. But this too is not a
factor for total extrication.
The commission however submitted its report to the state
government in Uyo, eight months after it was instituted. Governor Udom
Emmanuel, while receiving the report from the Chairman of the commission,
Justice Umoekoyo Esang(rtd), stated his readiness to implement the
recommendations in the report.
Although Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Akwa Ibom chapter,
had long raised alarm, alleging cover up by the state government and asking for
families of victims to be properly compensated, it seems the state government
is yet to be concerned with the cries of the people.
CLO, which represented the family of victims at the commission,
frowned at government’s failure to make the report public, alleging compromise
on the part of government and the commission.
Addressing reporters on the matter recently in Uyo, the CLO Chairman in the
state, Mr Clifford Thomas, expressed worry at the continued delay by government
in making the findings of the commission public.
Five months after submission of findings by the commission, Akwa
Ibom people and indeed Nigerians are still hopelessly being expectant of that
document from the strong hidden grip by the State government. Apart from
refusing the publicity of the content of the report, the Udom Emmanuel
administration has not implemented the recommendations as may have been handed
down by the commission.
Again, everyone is conscious of the fact that only about 24
people were officially declared dead by the Akwa Ibom State government as a
result of that unfortunate incident. But media reports have held that no fewer
than 200 people had lost their lives. Many have become pensive at the stance by
government as it appeared to have deliberately deceived the people.
Consequently, there has been rising tension of suspicion towards
the activities of government to kill public interest as to the true situation
of the report. Many are of the opinion that officials of government should
rather show some degree of responsibility by making the report and
recommendations of the commission a public document. This way, followers of that
mishap want to affirm to the fact that the Udom Emmanuel led administration is
truly a transparent one, doing everything to show its self-preached stance as
always being on the side of the people.
Definitely, people will not want to quickly forget that Governor
Udom Emmanuel was also a fortunate casualty at the disaster. While hundreds may
have lost their precious lives, the Governor was divinely rescued. Even though
there had been arguments that a certain personal aide of his (Governor Udom
Emmanuel) had dealt a brave but suicidal gallantry by pushing the Governor out
of a descending iron beam that eventually killed him, many had argued still on
the contrary. To this writer, who was, at the time of the catastrophe,
celebrating his professional Award as NUJ Reporter of the Year 2016, whether
the pinned Governor's aide had been instrumental to his safety or not, it was
still the will of God that Udom Emmanuel be safe.
Commissioners, Special Advisers and even Members of the Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly were equally affected. Some of them spent about
three weeks or more in the now closed down Ibom Specialist Hospital. The
Information Commissioner, Mr Charles Udoh; the Press Secretary to the Governor,
Mr. Ekerette Udo and many others were mercilessly engrossed in the disaster.
But God saved them all. Above all, God saved the life of Governor Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel.
Even his wife, Martha was haunted in a similar event the
following week in an outing in Lagos State. A closed person equally told this
reporter of his revelations about the Governor which was all in the negative.
But in all consideration, one gets to understand that it was only the Supreme
God that saved the Governor from being an unfortunate victim of that collapse.
However, while many are still asking what may have caused the
delay by government in publishing the report of the commission five months
after, together with the fact that today, Sunday 10th December, 2017 marks
exactly a year after the horrible experience, this writer has refused to ask the
apparent questions connecting Bishop Akan Weeks with the Governor. He is rather
thanking God that his very own State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel did not
die at that historic scene. This is because, if Udom Emmanuel had died at
Reigners Church collapse, the story would certainly not be the same.
See more pictures below..
Joseph Atainyang is a journalist and public affairs commentator. Gsm:
07036964637
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