File: Wike and Tambuwal 

Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt

Rivers State government has pledged Five N500m to support the Sokoto State government rebuild the Sokoto Central market that was gutted by fire on Tuesday.

Part of the money will also be used to  support victims of the devastating fire that destroyed goods worth billions of Naira.

Rivers State governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, made the  pledge on behalf of the State government during a visit to the Governor of Sokoto State ,Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Wednesday.

Governor Wike who was conducted round the destroyed market by Governor Tambuwal, said he was saddened by the devastating fire that razed over  60 percent of the 16,000 shops there.

“We have come here to commiserate and sympathise with our brother, our friend and the good people of Sokoto State on what had happened to one of the biggest market in this country, the Sokoto central market.

“When I got the information last night, I was touched and I said as brothers, what affects you affects us. What affects Sokoto State affects Rivers State.”

The Rivers State governor who empathized with the traders over the loss of their good worth billions of Naira, thanked God that no life was lost  in the  disastrous inferno.

“There is nothing you can equate with life. That there was no life lost, we give glory to the almighty Allah. Having come here, I’ve seen the level of destruction, it is unfortunate. People have lost their goods, the state government will have to see how this market will be brought back to the way it is supposed to be.

“We sympathise with you. We identify with you and we know the negative effect on the economy of the various families; families who depend for day to day trading and sales  of their goods .”

Governor Wike expressed his appreciation to the various  security  and paramilitary agencies that prevented the fire from destroying the entire market.

He pledged that the government of Rivers State will support Sokoto State to rebuild the market and ameliorate the plight of the traders with N500 million.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Rivers State, we will support the Sokoto State government to see how quickly they can rebuild this market” he added.

Governor Tambuwal thanked Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State for the kind gesture.

Governor Wike also  paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar in his palace to commiserate with him over the demise of junior brother , Hon. Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, who was Sokoto State Commissioner for Home Affairs.

In his response, Sultan Abubakar, acknowledged the age-long relationship between Sokoto and Rivers State and lauded to Governor  Wike for sustaining it.

He explained  that Governor Wike’s visit and pledge to support Sokoto State is a demonstration of what Nigeria is and should be.

The Sultan  further commended Governor Wike for his remarkable developmental stride in Rivers State.

” I commend you and congratulate you  for all  what you have been  doing for Rivers state in particular, because we have seen a lot of infrastructure being put in place and that is why they call you Mr project in Rivers.

” You have just some few more years, please do much more so that no body will beat you when he take over from you

Similarly, the Sultan lauded Governor Tambuwal for his judicious management of the state resources which earned the State a  World Bank grant under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS) program.