Tinubu gives out N50m to fire victims of Katsina market amidst reactions

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

As the effect of firestorm on businesses and sources of livelihood across the country as Lagos, Edo, Port Harcourt, Abuja and most recently, Katsina, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has promised to donate N50 million to the victims of the recent Katsina Market fire incident.

Tinubu, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), made the disclosure on Wednesday during a visit to the market to condole with the traders who lost properties worth billions of naira.

The former Lagos State Governor went to the market in the company of Aminu Masari, Katsina State Governor,stating he has visited the state and the market to commiserate with the traders who lost properties as well as the state governor.

He encouraged for the full resumption of normal market activities at the market despite the tragedy.

The APC leader  used the opportunity to, love and peace among Nigerians, saying that Nigerians must be their brother’s keeper.

In the same vain, President Muhammadu Buhari who is an indegine of tge state had on Tuesday said his government would work with Katsina and Zamfara to assist traders affected by fire.

The president’s message to the state Governors, Masari of Katsina and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, was delivered by a member of the delegation, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the president, Malam Garba Shehu.

Buhari expressed concern at the destruction of billions of Naira worth of goods and property in the inferno.

President Buhari

He noted that the unfortunate fire incidents came at a time when the effects of COVID 19 on economies around the world had taken a toll on virtually all businesses.

He also acknowledged that many of the traders had stocked wares in anticipation of the boom in sales in the period of the upcoming Ramadan and the Sallah festival that follows.

The federal government delegation was however led on the visit to Katsina and Gusua the capital of the two states by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

However, reactions have trailed the N50 million donations on social media. Many have expressed their disappointments that of all the fire incidents in Lagos and many other states in the country, it’s only  Katrina the Federal government has promised to support he also chose to also support.

Aide of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri wrote, “Tinubu who didn’t visit or donate one kobo to victims of the Sasa market crisis, or to victims of the Ijesha market fire in Lagos, has today donated ₦50 million to victims of the Katsina market fire. Obviously, Tinubu’s charity does not begin at home.”