Posted by From Josephine Lohor in Abuja on
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday donated N140 million ($1 million) on behalf of the Federal Government to the United Nations Relief Fund for victims of the Tsunami Quake that hit numerous nations in South East Asia and also set up a twelve-man committee to coordinate the raising of funds to support victims of the disaster which has so far claimed over 155,000 people
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday donated N140 million ($1 million) on behalf of the Federal Government to the United Nations Relief Fund for victims of the Tsunami Quake that hit numerous nations in South East Asia and also set up a twelve-man committee to coordinate the raising of funds to support victims of the disaster which has so far claimed over 155,000 people.
The Tsunami which occurred in the early hours of December 26, 2004, was triggered by an undersea earthquake off Indonesia, and has affected areas as wide as from Sumatra in Asia to Somalia in Africa.
The committee which President Obasanjo inaugurated is co-chaired by Archbishop Peter Akinola, President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Sultan of Sokoto and head of the Islamic Faith in Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.
Other members of the committee are the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo; the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, John Onaiyekan and Governors of Akwa Ibom and Kano States, Victor Attah and Ibrahim Shekarau respectively.
Other members are Jim Ovia of Zenith bank, Mrs Ayo Obe from the civil society, Miss Bilkisu Yusuf; Chairman of the Punch Newspapers, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola; Alhaji Umaru Mutalab and Special Adviser to the President on Civil Society Groups, Engineer Abba Gana.
President Obasanjo said Nigeria would in addition make donations to the African Union Relief Fund ,and also urged all Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike, especially businesses, religious bodies, state and local governments and all men of goodwill to stand up and be counted in this task of showing concern.
Describing the Tsunami quake as "one of the most devastating and heart-rendering disasters to have affected a part of the world in recent human history," the President added that "our tradition in Africa values compassion as one of the great marks of our peoples and when others are inflicted we feel afflicted with them.
"We try to share their pains and sorrows in true reflection of our belief in collective action, mutual support and humble belief in the power and infinite knowledge of our Creator."
president Obasanjo also noted that "in the past, we have shown our concern naturally when others were victimised either by natural disaster or by human action of disaster or oppression as we did in the case of our brothers and sisters in South Africa who were oppressed by the yoke of colonialism and apartheid regime."
he advised members of the committee whose primary task is "to raise resources in cash and in kind to support the victims of the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia," to remember that "this is a national assignment that requires full attention and your respective ability to draw on the goodwill you have with all sectors of the society."