Amid thunderous applause, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and four of his counterparts from the South-South last Saturday received the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) guber flags for the April polls.

The acting National Chairman of the party, Dr Mohammed Bello handed the flags to the governors during the South-South PDP presidential rally held in Port Harcourt over the weekend.

Dr Mohammed while handing over the party’s flags to the guber candidates said the ceremony was  symbolic as it demonstrated the mandate of the party for them to fly its flags at the state level during the April polls and  enjoined them to ensure the victory of all PDP candidates in the election.

He noted that the people of the South-South had bestowed on Nigeria  a great gift through President Jonathan whom he described as the best candidate at the moment.

Dr Mohammed thanked PDP faithfuls who turned up at the occasion, saying though the party had recorded huge crowd in other zones, that of the South-South was unprecedented.

Earlier in his address, zonal Vice Chairman of the party in the South-South, Chief Okon Nkpubre said the governors got the flags because of their performance in governance.

“ Your people are happy with you, that is why they are giving you a second term, he said.

He urged the governors not to underrate their opponents but to ensure that the party sweeps the polls.

Chief Nkpubre who described the South-South as PDP enclave also said that PDP would recapture Edo State at the polls to ensure total victory in the zone.

Responding, Governor Amaechi who burst into song and spoke in an emotion laden voice described the event as historic, while thanking God for emerging the candidate of the party after he was disqualified in 2007.

Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke said the rally was significant as it marked the beginning of massive PDP victory in the April polls.

Senator Imoke said the party had an edge over other political parties because its presidential candidate is the best prepared and qualified for the office.

In his words, “ we are just beginning the campaign. The engine is heating up and the steam was just starting, adding that the country,  needs new and dynamic leaders as symbolised in the candidacy of Dr Jonathan”.

Following the unfortunate stampede at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zonal Presidential Rally at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered an immediate investigation into the causes of the incident.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this Saturday night when he visited victims at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt said the President gave the order before departing the state.

Governor Amaechi, who was visibly shaken by the loss of lives in the unfortunate incident, said “we may not be able to say anything until the security agencies must have turned in their report after investigation”.

He explained that government would take care of the medical bills of all those being treated, and would try to reach the families of those that lost their lives to see what level of assistance that could be given to them.

The governor said ‘it is quite sad and extremely painful that the party will come out from such a celebration to meet this kind of tragedy, “we, however, believe that God will give the families of those that died the courage to bear the irreparable loss”.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker has disclosed that a total of 11 persons have been confirmed dead following the incident.

Dr Parker said out of the number, 10 persons died at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), while one person died at the Teme Clinic in Port Harcourt where they were rushed to.

In another development,  the president expressed shock and sadness over the stampede at the PDP campaign rally in Port Harcourt which claimed some lives.

A statement issued by Mr Ima Niboro, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Port Harcourt said that the President described the incident as very unfortunate.

“The President mourns with the families of the deceased and prays the Almighty to grant repose to their souls.

“President Jonathan notes with a heavy heart that the deceased were persons who came to celebrate his success at the PDP primaries and wish him well in the coming elections,” the statement said.

The statement quoted Jonathan as saying: “I am sad and heavily weighed down by this incident.

“It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable. I mourn with those who mourn tonight. May God grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.’’

The statement said that the President had directed that a full-scale investigation should be carried out into the stampede.

Our correspondent reports that the stampede occurred shortly after the rally when party supporters were trooping out of Port Harcourt’s Liberation Stadium, venue of the South-South campaign rally.