One of our God given assignments among others is to keep record for posterity sake. There was once a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph…
On 12th September 2014, a total of 116 people were killed including 81 South Africans in a building collapse that occurred in Lagos, Nigeria.
Scores more sustained injuries when the multi-storey guesthouse belonging to the same establishment collapsed on that day.
“This is a particularly difficult time for South Africa. Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country,” said President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.
“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues that have lost their loved ones in this heart-breaking tragedy.
“The whole nation shares the pain of the mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who have lost their loved ones. We are all in grief,” he said.
A theory about a low-flying plane soon featured in a number of Nigerian newspapers 2 days after while there were recordings of monies given to some pressmen to soft pedal on the issue.
NEMA’s southwest co-ordinator at the time, Ibrahim Farinloye rejected claims of sabotage and said extra floors were being added to the building without changing the foundations.
“If it were an act of terrorism or sabotage, it would have gone into rubble,” he added.
In addition, NEMA rescue workers were only able to access the site properly at 9.00am on Sunday 14th and the emergency services and media had previously complained of being attacked by church security.
The Lagos state building control agency also complained that its officials were obstructed and Farinloye indicated more lives could have been saved had rescuers been able to get to the building sooner.
At that time, South Africans were pained but Church Gist was advised not to mention the matter as it was ‘sensitive’.
Nobody complained that Church Gist should have mentioned the news and take solidarity with our dearly beloved South African followers.
It is therefore wrong, immoral and self serving to now insist that another news from the same venue be published.
Signed
Church Gist Management
