President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, despatched a high-powered delegation to commisserate with the government and people of Sokoto state, over the recent inferno that destroyed the central market.
Led by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, members of the delegation included Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.
Gambari at the Government House told governor Aminu Tambuwal that “President Buhari sent us to commiserate with you and the people of the state on the damages caused by the fire. Sokoto people are hardworking, industrious. We are here therefore to empathize with the victims of the market inferno. President Buhari was extremely touched by the inferno as well as the plight of the victim,” he said.
Corroborating Gambari’s message to Governor Tambuwal, Senator Wamakko said President Buhari was so touched that “he would have been here by himself.”
Responding, Tambuwal said “We are consoled and delighted to receive you on Mr President’s representation to come and commiserate with the people of Sokoto. We cannot but thank him for the show of love. This is what is expected of a leader. We do not feel abandoned.
“We are trying to see how we can reconstruct the market and assist the traders. From our assessment, 60% of the 16,000 shops were razed down by the fire. The market is a business hub for some sub-Saharan countries. We seek federal government’s intervention, especially for the traders who have greatly been affected by the inferno,” Tambuwal said.
At the Sultan Palace, Gambari said that the Federal government will facilitate the speedy reconstruction of the burnt market, in order “to ensure early commencement of commercial activities at the market.”
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar expressed happiness for the love the shown by Buhari for the people of the state and urged the Federal government to consider early reconstruction of the market.
At the Market, Gambari promised that “The Federal government will assist the state government and the local authorities to ensure that the burnt market is reconstructed better than it was.”
