Deaths at rally: SGF leads Buhari’s delegation to Taraba

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday despatched a team to Jalingo, Taraba State, to condole with the government and people of the state over the loss of lives at his campaign rally last week.

The team, led by Mr Boss Gida Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), included Governor of Adamawa, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla; Senator Ali Ndume; Mallam Mohammed Bello, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Dr Ali Isa Pantami, Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

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, Mr Boss Mustapha, speaking on behalf of the President, lamented the sad loss of eight people during and after the rally, saying they did not die in vain.

Responding, Governor 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.

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 will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

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