Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that the senate will do all in its power to support Internally Displaced Persons and help to proffer a permanent solution to insurgency in the country.
Saraki who also donated a total of N10 million to the IDPs said this when he led a delegation of Senators to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday.
The Senators include Senate Leader, Ali Ndume; Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Senator Hassan Mohammed, Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Isa Galaudu.
The Senators were received by the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kassim Shettima. The delegation also visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Khanemi.
Saraki said “We have come to feel your pains, to hear what you have been going through. We are here to understand the 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.
“We have come to sit with you and listen to you, and hopefully 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 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.”
Gov. Shettima also added that “I would like to express my sincere and profound welcome to the Senate President and our respected and distinguished senators on this official visit to Borno State, which is the first of its kind by any Senate President since the return to civilian rule in 1999.This is a clear manifestation of your concern for the plight of the people of the North-East region and Borno State in particular.
“The people of Borno State view this day and this visit as significant. I have no doubt in my mind about the seriousness of this administration to putting a permanent end to this senseless bloodletting and madness of a few misguided elements, who hide under the canopy of Islam to perpetuate this heinous crime against innocent and defenceless citizens.
“The actions of these criminals are completely at variance with the tenets of Islam. Borno has seen the worst of this insurgency and the problem is still rearing its head with its attendant bloodletting and carnage.
“The measures so far taken by this administration have rekindled our hope for a better and more secured future. We hope your coming to see the IDPs will translate into a more robust legislative action that will bring about safety, security and succour to our people.”