December Salaries of the entire 109 Senators , totalling N109million , would be donated to survivors of drone mishap which killed about 85 people in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of the Kaduna State last Sunday .
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, announced this, on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio at the Kaduna Government House on Sunday when he led a delegation of the Senate to the state Governor , Senator Uba Sani.
Senator Barau told the Kaduna Governor that the money would be sent to him for onward delivery to the victims.
He said : ” Let me state clearly that the Senate has been in contact with the President of this country, who is also highly disturbed and has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“We are all on the same page with the executive arm of the government and we will continue to work in partnership to unravel what happened and also take measures to prevent this kind of unfortunate incident from recurring.
” We are here to show our solidarity and to show the fact that we stand by the people, we stand by the government and indeed the entire people of the state, particularly the people of Tudun Biri in this trying period.
” We will partner with you and do all within our power to bring succor to those who are affected by this unfortunate incident.
” It is on this note that I want to announce, on behalf of the President of the Senate and the entire Senate, that we have decided that we are going to donate our December salaries to the victims.
” A total of N109 million will be made available to the governor so that it can be channeled to help the victims”.
Responding, the governor thanked the senators for their donations
” What I can say here today is that I am really happy with the level of support, level of empathy and solidarity by the people of this country, from Mr. President, vice president, to the leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly generally, as well as the good people of Nigeria.
” I also want to make it clear today that here in Kaduna we have received this thing with shock, but unfortunately in the last few days, some people are trying to make it look like it is either an ethnic or religious issue. We are one family, there is no difference between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna. This incident can happen anywhere in Nigeria and is about humanity.
” What we are asking for is justice for the people of Tudun Biri who lost their lives and those in the hospital. I would like to also call on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate to join the Kaduna State government and the good people of Nigeria in calling for a probe and investigation into this incident. I will also urge the members of the National Assembly to look at the laws that have to do with security agencies in Nigeria so that they can strengthen those institutions.
” What happened last week here in Kaduna could have been averted if the security agencies in Nigeria were working on the same page. They need to share intelligence,” he said.
From the Kaduna Government House, the Senate delegation comprising the Senate leader, Senator Micheal Opayemi Bamidele; the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume; Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Kamorudeen Olarere; Senator Abdulhamid Malam-Madori; Senator Aliyu Ikra Bilbis; Senator Ibrahim Bomoi; Senator Ibrahim Lamido; Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua; Senator Victor Umeh; Senator Muntari Dandutse; Senator Lawal Usman; Senator Emmanuel Udende and Senator Sani Musa, went to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital to visit the injured.
