APC campaign tragedy: SGF, others condole with dead supporters’ families in Taraba

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has sent a team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to Taraba State to commiserate with the families of the eight supporters that died during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Jalingo, the state capital.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also condoled with the government and people of the state over loss of lives that attended the tragedy.

Other members of the team included Adamawa State Governor (a neighbouring state to Taraba) Senator Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow; Senator Ali Ndume; Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Mohammed Bello; Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Dr. Ali Isa Pantami; and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Mr. Femi Adesina.

Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf, a Taraba stakeholder, also joined the team.

At the Taraba Government House, where the team was received by Governor Darius Ishaku, Mustapha lamented the sad loss of eight people during and after the rally, promising that they would not die in vain.

The SGF said: “President Buhari will continue to focus on public good and welfare of the people. The eight people would then not have died in vain.

“They represent the good of our people and country. They wanted good governance as symbolised by President Buhari. So, they turned out to welcome him at the rally. As we go to the polls, let’s exercise the civic responsibility with zeal, but also with decency and restraint. The country is our own, and we must preserve its oneness.”

Ishaku expressed “sincere gratitude and thanks to Mr. President for promptly sending a delegation to condole with us,” adding that the people of Taraba were grateful for the show of concern.

He prayed that the souls of the dead would rest in peace, stressing: “Peace is my mantra. I stand by it any day. I am thankful that Mr. President, who is firstly my elder brother before being my President, came to Taraba in peace and left in peace.”

An official letter of condolence personally signed by the President was presented to the governor by the SGF.

At the palace of the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, the leader of the delegation condoled with the monarch and the people on behalf of the President, praying that God would give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Emir said it was President Buhari that needed to be condoled, since he lost his supporters, who loved him dearly.

At the family home of one of the dead, where the relations of other victims had congregated, the names of the deceased were read out.

Alhaji Haruna Kawuwa, who lost his wife, Safiya, thanked Buhari for remembering and condoling with them at their time of sorrow.

The delegation also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, where prayers were said for the quick recovery of the injured on admission.