By Abiola Olawale (The New Diplomat’s Southwest Bureau)
Omoluabi Coalition, a Yoruba group, has berated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos state for donating N50 million to victims of the market fire in Katsina State and ignoring a similar incident in Southwest.
The New Diplomat had reported that Tinubu announced the donation of N50million to the victims of the Kastina Central Market Fire. Tinubu made the announcement during a condolence visit to Kastina State.
Reacting, Director-general, Omoluabi Coalition, Engr. Seye Karounwi, described Tinubu’s gesture as a mere political eye service.
According to him, Tinubu neglected the victims of the fire outbreak at Sasha Market in Ibadan, Oyo State and the victims of Akesan Market in Oyo township, and many others to seek acceptance from political establishments from the North.
The statement reads, “Asiwaju Tinubu turned blind eye to a similar crisis at the Sasha Market in Ibadan, Oyo State or the recent fire outbreak at the Akesan Market in Oyo township, but jumped into a long journey to Katsina State ‘to sympathize with the victims and to be his brothers’ keeper.’ We cannot but conclude that the purpose of Asiwaju Tinubu’s visit to Katsina is firmly rooted in politics, and has nothing to do with philanthropy. This is not the first time that Tinubu would compromise on the interest of the Yoruba in his infantile adventure of seeking acceptance from political establishments from the North. As a group, we sympathize with victims of the fire outbreak at Katsina market and other markets across Nigeria. What we denounce is a politician who seeks to play politics on the misery of other people.”
Similarly, Reno Omokri, a former social media aide to Former President Goodluck Jonathan, also condemned Tinubu for donating N50m to victims of the Katsina market fire and ignoring affected traders in the Southwest.
Omokri, took to his official Twitter handle to criticize Tinubu, stating that his ‘charity doesn’t begin at home’.
He tweeted, “Bola Tinubu, who didn’t visit or donate one kobo to victims of the Sasa market crisis, or to victims of the Ijesha market fire in Lagos, has today donated N50m to victims of the Katsina market fire. Obviously, Tinubu’s charity does not begin at home.”
It would be recalled that, at least, six people were reported dead while scores of shops and houses were burnt in the inferno that gutted the Shasha market in Ibadan.
