- I look forward to a more weather-friendly period when I will visit – President
President Muhammadu Buhari has rescheduled his one-day working visit to Zamfara, due to bad weather condition, an official has said.
Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, said this when he spoke with newsmen in Gusau on Thursday, saying the president’s plane could not land at the 207 Quick Response Unit of Nigerian Air Force, Gusau, due to poor visibility.
Matawalle said Buhari was originally scheduled to arrive Gusau aboard a helicopter after an official visit to Sokoto, saying however, that the trip was cancelled due to poor visibility.
“Mr president has spoken to me and asked me to convey his apology to the good people of the state.
“The president said he would reschedule his visit to the state for next week and a date would be communicated to us in due course,” he said.
The governor said that security chiefs who were billed to receive the President in Gusau were also stranded in Katsina due to bad weather.
“The chiefs are currently in Katsina but can’t fly to Zamfara for the same reason.
”Based on this, we are extending our apologies to the good people of the state over the postponement for reason beyond our control.
“We thank Mr President for his love for the state,” Matawalle said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President was expected in the state on a working visit to commiserate with the victims of Jan. 5 bandits’ attack which affected eight communities in Anka and Bukuyum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state among others.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret for not visiting Zamfara as earlier planned on Thursday, due to inclement weather conditions.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari made his feelings known in a special broadcast to the people of Zamfara on Thursday evening.
The President said: ”It pains me that I can no longer be with you today as I had planned. I had just finished what I came to do in Sokoto at the BUA cement facility and was looking forward to meeting you.
”I have been told that the trip cannot hold anymore because of bad weather which has made it impossible for my helicopter to fly to Gusau from Sokoto.
I understand how you feel about this development but I know that you will agree with me that Allah knows best.
”I particularly sympathise with your Governor, Bello Matawalle and his cabinet who have put everything in place to make the visit a successful one.
”I look forward to a more weather-friendly period when I will visit.”
The President reiterated his administration’s determination to put an end to the activities of bandits and terrorists in the state, and directed security agencies to sustain the onslaught against the criminal elements.
He reassured that the Federal Government in collaboration with the Zamfara government would continue to ensure peace and stability in the state.
”I am directing our security agencies to sustain the onslaught against terrorists, restrict cross-boundary infiltration and all unauthorised access to the goldmines in the state.
”The Federal Government and the Zamfara government are working to ensure that peace returns to all parts of the state in the shortest possible time and we expect all citizens to cooperate with, and support in all ways, the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
”God bless the people of Zamfara ,” he said.(NAN)
