By JIMITOTA ONOYUME
THOSE who died in the recent stampede at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium did not die in vain, says wife of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dame Patience Jonathan, who spoke, weekend, in Port Harcourt, when she visited families of the bereaved, said the memories of those who died would continue to be celebrated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Noting that they died for democracy, the First Lady said the Federal Government will not abandon the families they left behind.

Dame Jonathan, who travelled to the villages of the bereaved families, before visiting Government House, Port Harcourt, where she condoled with Governor Chibuike  Amaechi, also addressed the survivors of the stampede.

According to her, the victims of the stampede have paid the price for democracy in Nigeria.

VISIT: From left: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Chief Asikiyeofori Bileme Dapa, husband of the late Fanny Asikiyeofori, a victim of the Liberty Stadium Stampede, and Mrs Lois Ogbeide, mother of the deceased, during the First Lady's visit to the families of some victims of the PDP rally stampede in Port harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Dame Jonathan, who also delivered a letter of condolence to Governor Amaechi, prayed for quick recovery of the survivors, and urged them not to be deterred by the incident, but to continue to support the PDP, Rivers State Governor and Mr President, who they came to identify with.

The First Lady prayed God to give Governor Amaechi the strength to bear the loss, stressing that the Governor has come to deliver Rivers people, and God would help him to deliver the state from the shackles of poverty and under-development.

Dame Jonathan had earlier visited the families of the late Mrs Ucheoma Wokama inErema, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Late Mrs Caroline Enyindia, Ubima, in Ikwerre Government Area, Late Mr Felix Nwiaga, Leader of Tai Legislative Assembly at Botem Tai,  and Mrs Fanny Micah at Niger Street in Port Harcourt, where she sympathized with the families they left behind.

She assured them that the state and Federal Government would  support the bereaved families while regretting that those who died left at the time when they were most needed to translate the principle of one man one vote into action in the election process in the country.