President Bola Tinubu visited Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday to commiserate with the victims of the recent flood disaster, vowing to tackle the impact of climate change and other environmental issues in a different way.
Speaking at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, HRH Abubakar Umar Garba, he said he had to cut off his scheduled official trip to United States of America in order to sympathize with the people of Borno over the unfortunate incidence.
The President, who had earlier been received by the state governor, Babagana Zulum and other political stakeholders in the state, said, “I am just here to sympathise with you. I know your palace was overtaken by flood. I have heard the report.
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“My VP gave me details but to me personally, I know I have to cut off. I was going directly to America but to be with you if only for five minutes share the moment.
“I thank you very much for your leadership for your various prayers, this is one disaster that we must pay attention to , we will help Borno State.”
He added, “We as a government, as Nigerian people, we pledge with you that we will help you in the rehabilitation. It is our problem not just your problem; we must share in each other’s pains.
“The situation that we find ourselves in the environmental problem, climate change and all of these is what we must tackle differently and we must educate our people.”
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno tasked the president to get to the root cause of the flooding.
He said, “My request is one, that is, find out the root cause of this flooding in addressing it appropriately so as to avoid future occurrence as 80 percent has been affected by this disaster.
“This great city of Maiduguri was established sometimes 1907. It’s a period of 117 years; nothing like this happened.
“Although about 30 years back ,1994, similar disaster of this kind happened but this kind happened worst.”
The monarch expressed appreciation to the military for their roles in rescuing the victims.
Governor Zulum. in his comments, thanked the president for cutting short his trip to the US to commiserate with his people.
He noted that the president has a long term relationship with the people of the state and has contributed immensely to the growth of democracy in the state.
Zulum said, “Your Excellency, your relationship with the people of Borno State has been in existence long before you became the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Some may not even count the numbers of times you came to Maiduguri.
“For those of us in the position, we knew your contributions to the growth and development of our dear state. We have known your contributions to the growth and development of democracy in Borno State and indeed to our own party.
“We have seen the contributions you made when we had the Sabari massacre; the many more incidences that have happened in Borno State.
“Now that you have become the president, I am not surprised.
“So, you have been here. Be rest assured that the people of Borno State will never disappoint you; you have a dependable ally that we will never disappoint you.”
Zulum thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their supports to the state so far.
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