Saraki Visits North-East, Donates N10m To IDPs

Senate president, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured the people of north-east that the entire country was solidly behind them in this time of trial.

Saraki, who spoke in Maiduguri, Borno State when he led a delegation of the senate on a one- day on the spot assessment of the security situation in Borno State, also made a cash donation N10million in support of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The senate delegation was received by Borno State, governor Kassim Shettima, at the Government House.

Saraki said: “We have come to feel your pains, to hear what you have been going through firsthand. To seek to understand the severe bloody struggle you have had to endure and go through emotionally, physically, financially and in many other ways which can hardly be put in words.”

The senate president, who also led the team, in company of Governor Shettima to pay homage to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Khanemi, assured the people that the senate would do all in its power to ensure that life returns to the state and the zone.

Saraki later visited the Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camps located at the Umaru Shehu College of Education in Maiduguri and the Government College Maiduguri with over 4000 displaced persons respectively.

The delegation also visited the Dalori IDPs camp housing over 18,000 displaced persons from Bama local government of the state.

He said the resolution of the senate to send a high- powered delegation led by himself was a demonstration of the commitment of the upper chamber to find a lasting solution to the plight of the people in the north-east.

“We have come to sit with you and listen to you and hopefully together work out solutions that would significantly change your situation for the better. We believe that after this visit, your situation will not be the same again.

“The purpose of our visit is simple; we have come to bring you hope and to let you know that the Nigerian senate has not abandoned you and real change is coming. We are determined to end this carnage. We are determined to defeat Boko Haram.

“The Nigerian senate and indeed the National Assembly is willing to support you and your families to ensure that your lives return to normal. We could not in good conscience talk to you from Abuja. No. This new senate would rather come here and this is why we are here,” he stated.