Abuja explosion: APC govs pledge to establish trust fund to victims of violence

By Umar Muhammad Puma

Concerned by the increase in terrorist attacks in the country, the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday assured that they will establish a trust fund to help bring succour to the families of violence and insurgency in the country.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the National Hospital in Abuja, when they paid a visit to commiserate with victims of the Nyanya bomb blast, chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha urged Nigerians to join hands with government to fight terrorism in the country.

“As part of our concern, we have decided to establish a trust fund by the APC governors to support the families of the victims of this unholy act. We shall also join forces with other democrats to ensure that this bad story ends as quickly as possible. We pray for the deceased and the families that lost their loved ones in the incident”, he said.

Governor Okorocha who spoke on behalf of other governors said the group was at the National hospital to see those who were involved in the ugly incident that took place in Nyanya.

While lamenting the violence and killings of innocent people in the country, Governor Okorocha urged President Goodluck Jonathan to rise up to the challenge and show leadership by employing all devices within his ability to arrest the situation.

According to him, the APC governors believe that this should not be the time to play politics or apportion blames but that every hand must be on deck to ensure safety of lives and property.

“Our heart goes out to all those people who lost their loved ones. We know they must be in serious pain at the moment. What happened was rather unfortunate. Our nation has experienced increasing loss of lives. Almost on daily basis, we hear one ugly story or the other about loss of lives.

“For the Nyanya bomb incident, the APC join millions of Nigerians to condemn this ungodly act which does not do our nation any good. We have notice an increase in blood shedding in our nation and this has become worrisome and as leaders, we believe that this is not a time to begin to seek who is wrong or who is not. It is a time we must all close ranks to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“This is not the time to talk a out politics with people’s lives. We appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliations to come together and unite to fight this evil of the moment which has terrorized our nation.

“We also want to request Mr. President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces to defend that particular part of our Constitution which guarantees safety of lives and property of the ordinary people. We urge him to show leadership at this moment and do whatever it is within his capacity as the President to fish out those who are involved in this act; a nation cannot live like that. While we urge all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, we pray that all will unite to fight this crime”, he added.

The Nasarawa state Governor, Al makura cautioned Nigerian to be vigilant and observant of all happening around them as means of assisting the security forces checkmate the activities of the terrorists.