The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has berated politicians in the state for using the Uke adoration stampede incident as a tool for scoring cheap political points against opponents.

Reacting to verbal attacks fired against each other by various political camps engaged in campaign activities for the November 16 Anambra governorship election, CLO said that nothing can be so callous than people playing politics with human blood.

CLO in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah, and Secretary, Comrade Chibueze Nwajiaku, expressed bitterness on the way the unfortunate incident has been turned into a campaign tool by desperate politicians.

The statement noted that the State Chairman of CLO was an eyewitness to what transpired at the adoration ground, having attended the vigil with his wife. It cautioned politicians against making unguarded and inflammatory comments that would not only overheat the polity but also attract the wrath of God.

The tragedy, according to CLO, was an accident caused by the unprecedented number of worshippers and false alarm that had nothing to do with the arrival or exit of the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, at the adoration ground.

CLO aligned itself with the position of Intersociety and the South East Christian Association of Nigeria, both of whom have banned politicians from campaigning in churches.

The organisation also called for a holistic investigation on the incident with a view to ascertaining the motive and mission of those who were waving banners and posters of guber aspirants in a holy prayer ground.

While commiserating with the bereaved families on the grievous loss, CLO also called on the authorities at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministries, Uke, to enlarge the adoration ground with more entrance and exit routes and also fashion out an effective crowd control mechanism with adequate security in the premises to avoid a repeat of the ugly incident that claimed at least 25 lives.

•Photo shows Gov. Peter Obi (right) with Srs Mary Claude Oguh of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital, Nkpor, when the governor visited some victims of the adoration stampede being treated at the hospital.

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