Hottestgistnaija.com
Nigeria’s interior minister has rejected calls for him to step down after he blamed job-seekers for their deaths in Saturday’s stampede.
At least seven people died after tens of thousands turned up to take a test for fewer than 5,000 positions.
Abba Moro told the BBC that there had been “poor handling” of the event by officials but also said those in the crowd should have been more patient.
He said his resignation “did not arise” until after an investigation.
Tens of thousands of people are said to have turned up to take the testMr Moro told the BBC’s Newsday programme that “unauthorised” people had broken through the fence into the national stadium in the capital, Abuja, where the tests were being held, causing the stampede.
Similar statements over the weekend had led to calls for him to resign.
Although he said he accepted responsibility, as only one stadium entrance was open at the time, he said he would not step down.
One of the applicants, Mohammed Yusuf, told Newsday he saw two people crushed to death in front of him, saying it was “very terrible”.
He blamed the officials in charge of the stadium for the deaths, saying that more than one gate should have been opened.
Applicants had to pay 1,000 naira ($6; £3.5) to take the test. Mr Moro said this would not be refunded.
The recruitment exercise was for jobs in the immigration department. There is a high level of unemployment in Nigeria especially among young people. In 2011, it stood at 23.9%.
Its unfortunate that our leaders/rulers don’t know how/when to take responsibilities for their actions/inactions. They’d rather prefer to be booted out of office. If it were in other climes (most especially the developed countries), the interior minister need not to be told on what to do. He would’ve stepped down. But in our own case here, rather than resigning, the minister had the temerity to aportion blames & absolving himself/ministry from the unfortunate mishap that occurred on saturday. And the saddest part of the whole scenario is that those that would be employed are not amongst the 500,000+ applicants @ different stadia nationwide. They’ll be in the comfort of their homes. We’ve been taken for a ride far too long. I think its high time people begin to rise up, (a la arab spring) to force such people out of office. Power belongs to the people and until we realise that, such people like mr moro will continue to take us for a ride!!!