President Bola Tinubu has pledged to tackle climate change and its manifestations differently, emphasising the need for collective action and education.
Speaking at the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garba, in Maiduguri on Monday, Tinubu expressed sympathy with the people of Borno State, who have been affected by recent flooding.
The President said he had to cut off his scheduled official trip to the United States of America to sympathise with the people of Borno over the unfortunate incident.
The President acknowledged the leadership and prayers of the Shehu, assuring him of government support in rehabilitation efforts.
He emphasised that environmental problems, including climate change, are a shared responsibility, requiring a collective response.
The President was received at the airport by Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum and other dignitaries, before heading to the Shehu’s palace.
He said, “I am just here to sympathise with you. I know your palace was overtaken by flood, I have heard the report, My VP gave me details but to me personally, I know I have to cut off.
“I was going directly to America but to be with you if only for five minutes and share the moment.
“I thank you very much for your leadership for your various prayers, this is one disaster that we must pay attention to, and we will help Borno State.
“We as a government, as Nigerian people, we pledge with you that we will help you in the rehabilitation. It is our problem not just your problem, we must share in each other’s pains.
“The situation that we find ourselves in, the environmental problem, climate change and all of these, is what we must tackle differently, and we must educate our people,” he said.
On his way to the Shehu’s palace, the President visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’s Camp where he assured the flood victims of maximum support by the Federal Government.
Zulum thanked the President for cutting short his trip to the US to commiserate with his people.
He recounted that the President had a long term relationship with the people stressing that he (Tinubu) contributed immensely to the growth of democracy in the state.
“Your Excellency, your relationship with the people of Borno State has been in existence long before you became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some may not even count the number of times you came to Maiduguri.
“For those of us in this position, we know your contributions to the growth and development of our dear state. We have known your contributions to the growth and development of democracy in Borno State and indeed to our own party.
“We have seen your contributions you made when we had the Sabari Masaka; the many more incidents that have happened in Borno State. Now that you have become the President, I am not surprised.
“So, you have been here; be rest assured that the people of Borno State will never disappoint you; you have a dependable ally, that we will never disappoint you,” he said.
He thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari and the National Emergency Management Agency for their support to the state so far.
The Shehu of Borno requested that the President get to the root cause of the flooding.
“My request is one that is finding out the root cause of this flooding in addressing appropriately so as to avoid future occurrence as 80 percent has been affected by this disaster.
“This great city of Maiduguri was established sometime in 1907. It’s a period of 117 years; nothing like this has happened. Although about 30 years back, 1994, a similar disaster of this kind happened but this kind happened worst,” he said.
The monarch expressed appreciation to the military for their roles in rescuing the victims.
