Paul Chukwuma condoles with families affected by Okija stampede
By Jeffrey Agbo
A leading APC aspirant for the 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has commiserated with families who lost their relatives in the tragedy that tainted the distribution of Christmas gifts in Okija, Anambra State at the weekend.
Expressing deep shock at the scope and nature of the stampede which claimed many lives, Chukwuma observed that the incident brought untold grief and sadness to Anambra people in a season of love.
“Ndi Anambra, this tragedy has touched us all, but it must not be allowed to break the Anambra spirit, our sense of community, our legendary philanthropy and our belief that wealth has no meaning until it brings relief and happiness to ordinary people,” Chukwuma advised.
Observing that the people’s communal spirit always peaks when social conditions deteriorate, Chukwuma urged Anambra’s wealthy indigenes not to be discouraged by the Okija incident but to use their imaginations more and come up with clever ways to reach out and touch their communities this Christmas.
Noting that the mystery of life was so complex that sometimes, a well-intended effort to heal and bring succour to people could lead to unexpected outcomes, Chukwuma called for a collective introspection and prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the dead and a speedy healing for their loved ones.
“We are in mourning. I have directed my campaign council to suspend the planned physical distribution of Christmas gifts to various communities for now and to quickly come up with a strategy that will be of minimum discomfort to the intended beneficiaries,” Chukwuma explained
Speaking further, he said, “My family and I shall continue to hold the grieving families up in our prayers and ask God to grant them a speedy healing from their irreparable losses.”