Tudun Biri: Six Memorable Actions Of Governor Uba Sani

“We will have to fast-track the investigation and ensure that those involved are dealt with decisively” – Kaduna Gov on Tv

By Nasir Dambatta

The tragic drone bombing of worshippers in Tudun Biri area in Igabi Local Government of Kaduna State has attracted global attention. This is not so much because it was the first time such a tactical disaster has occured in Nigeria, but because the State has Governor Uba Sani, a man of immense local and international goodwill; one-time civil rights activist and a campaigner for saner democratic space; vocal advocate of State Police. Furthermore, Kaduna State has been a strategic space in terms of economic and political power since the nation’s independence.

Governor Uba Sani has undoubtedly taken six notable actions since the tragic military bombing of worshippers of Tudun Biri village via Unmanned Aerial Drone.

First, immediately the Governor received security report on the bombing, he despatched top government officials to Tudun Biri village to assess the situation. Soon afterwards, the injured were evacuated to Barau Dikko Hospital for prompt medical attention and the administration took over absolute care of their medical expenses. Funding the injured in the state-run hospital was the first urgent step of the administration that demonstrated its sense of commitment.

Secondly, days earlier, it was widely reported that the first batch of relief items were delivered to survivors of Tudun Biri by Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). The items include food, cooking oil, mattresses and blankets, among others. And the administration announced that additional supplies were underway to cater for the immediate need of the affected communities.

Thirdly, the governor ran an intensive update on television and radio stations on the steps taken and the next steps to be taken to ease the suffering of the people of the area. “we feel your pain”, he told the villagers in local language on electronic and print media, to calm then down, like a father to his children in a mourning community.

Fourthly, he has attracted not just the world’s attention to the suffering of Tudun Biri villagers but the nation’s political leaders. Consequently, donations came in batches and at regular intervals. The Northern Caucus of Nigerian Senate led by Senator Abdul Ningi dolled out N58 million in donations. Few days later, the news broke on N109 million December salaries of Nigerian Senators going to the mourning Tudun Biri community as donation. Following closely was the House of Representatives Caucus with its N45 million donation too.

The inaugural meeting of Northern Governors Forum (NGF) in Kaduna also attracted the administration’s goodwill for Tudun Biri as Senator Uba Sani received N180 million bank cheque in donation by the people of Tudun Biri. Goodwill at work, you could say.

Fifth, the governor has assigned his Chief of Staff, Sani Liman Kila and Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan to visit the village on daily basis, to ensure no important need of the villagers is missing by the administration. In addition to this, Governor Uba Sani has already extracted the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to investigations on the immediate and remote causes of the tragic bombing and prosecution (if need be) of whoever was handling the Unmanned Aerial Drone, if he/she is found to have done so out of recklessness. The governor extracted commitment from Vice President Kashim Shettima on the need to apply the PULAKU Initiative treatment to Tudun Biri. The PULAKU Initiative is a complete relief package, covering infrastructure, healthcare delivery services; schools and sundry vital needs of the people.

Sixth is the fact that road work in Tudun Biri has already kicked off as Caterpillars have been humming all through today, Sunday 17th December, 2023.

On the whole, it should not be difficult to see that Governor Uba Sani has not rested on his oars, regarding the most bitter memories of Tudun Biri villagers and the entire people of Kaduna State.

Dambatta is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor of Kaduna State.