Former President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday visited Borno and Jigawa States and commiserated with the governments and their people following the devastating floods that ravaged Borno and the deadly petroleum tanker explosion in Jigawa that claimed nearly 200 lives.
The incidents happened while he was away from the country.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu, tthe former president lamented the damage, destruction, and loss of lives during the worst floods in many decades in Borno s, ascribing the catastrophic incident to destructive weather due to climate change.
He recalled his days as the military governor of the North-Eastern State, now split into six states, when, as said, “we engaged in prayers for rain. We are having the irony of the state being overwhelmed by rain.”
He commended the efforts of the federal and state governments to collaborate to restore normalcy in the people‘s lives.
Buhari said although he had sent a delegation to condole the victims while he was away, he still felt unsatisfied with the gesture, necessitating the urge to make the trip to see things and personally commiserate with the state.
Governor Umara Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al Amin El-Kanemi, thanked the former president for the “historic visit,” saying that the state would never forget him as he had visited the state more than any other, and one “who has done so much and so well for Nigeria and Borno State in particular.
“Without the 85 megawatts captive power plant you built here, Maiduguri would have continued in darkness. You gave us the North East Development Commission, a military university, a federal polytechnic, and a college of education and ensured the gradual return of peace after years of Boko Haram terrorism,” the governor said.
In Dutse, Jigawa State, the acting governor, Engr Aminu Usman, led the former president to the Rasheed Shekoni University Teaching Hospital, where he saw the victims of the fire explosion still on admission.
Buhari joined in prayers for the repose of the over 180 so far dead from the fire and the quick recovery of those who were still on admission to hospitals.
The acting governor thanked the former president for the visit and for the cash donation to the victims.
