LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Unic Press UK) –— Martin Onovo, NCP presidential candidate at the 2015 presidential election, has criticised the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their position that Africans participating at the 2015 Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca were responsible for the stampede in Mina valley, which led to the death of over 700 persons.
Onovo, who spoke to Unic Press, advised Nigerian government to ensure that Nigerian officials provide all necessary assistance to Nigerians who are currently in Saudi Arabia.
He called on the government of Saudi Arabia to:
- Review their security, health and safety arrangement to ensure an end to this sort of disaster.
- Apologize to all the countries and the families of victims and pay some compensation. Onovo recalled that Justice Jega, a relation of former INEC Chair Prof Attahiru Jega, and a Judge at the Court of Appeal were among the victims of the stampede.
Onovo told Unic Press that the justification for his position included:
- Iranian authorities have blamed the Saudi authorities.
- The previous accident during Hajj is an indication of weaknesses in the Saudi management system.
- Leading Saudi clerics have absolved Africans from blame for the accident.
