The father of Leah Sharibu, the
schoolgirl held by Boko Haram, on Monday reacted to the donation made by the
former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who gave out part of his severance
allowance to the girl’s family.
Nathan Sharibu, a civil servant,
spoke in a telephone interview where he confirmed reading the
news about Mr Saraki’s charity, online.
The grieving father commended Mr
Saraki for having the issue of their abducted daughter in mind, despite the end
of his tenure as Senate President.
In a statement issued to the
media on Sunday, the former Senate President instructed the National Assembly
management to distribute all of his severance allowances to the families of
some victims of the Boko Haram who lost their loved ones, including the
Sharibus’, whose daughter, Leah, is still in captivity.
Miss Leah was the only schoolgirl
held back by Boko Haram after the insurgents had returned the 110 abducted
female students of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in
2018.
She was held back because she
reportedly refused to denounce her Christian Faith.
Mr Saraki had instructed that 20
per cent of what is due to him as severance allowance be given to Leah
Sharibu’s parents.
He had also instructed that “20
per cent is also to be paid to the family of Hauwa Liman, one of the two aid
worker brutally murdered by Boko Haram after she was captured in Rann, the
headquarters of KalaBalge local government of Borno state.
“Another 20 per cent is to be
donated to the family of the second aid worker, Hussain Ahmed Khoisan, also
murdered in the same circumstance, by Boko Haram.
According to him, the remaining
40 per cent should be used by the National Assembly management to set up a Trust
Fund that would assist children of deceased members of the eight Senate who are
in financial need for their education.
Reacting to this, Mr Sharibu said
“we read it on the internet last night and we were struck with mix feelings.”
“Each time we hear the name of
our daughter mentioned in the media, our expectation is to hear the good news
of her release. But, yesterday, we heard what the Senate President said should
be extended to Leah’s family.
“We thank him, not necessarily
because he is giving out money; no. But for the fact that he still has our
daughter in mind; and that gives us a lot of hope that Nigeria has not
forgotten her.
“Money is good, but what can be
compared to having our dear daughter back in our arms? That means a lot to us.”
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