By Shola Abayomi.
Mr Nathan Sharibu, the father of Leah Sharibu, the schoolgirl abducted by Boko Haram, has reacted to the pledge made by the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to offer a part of his severance allowance to the Sharibu family.
Mr Sharibu who is a civil servant, conveyed his gratitude to Senator Saraki, explaining that he read about the generous donation online. He praised the immediate past Senate President for remembering his family despite leaving office.
Dr Saraki in a statement released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, yesterday, directed the National Assembly management to distribute his severance package to the families of two humanitarian workers killed by Boko Haram, Hussaini Ahmed Khoisan and Hauwa Liman, as well as Leah Sharibu who is currently being held by the deadly sect.
The directive from the former Senate President instructed that:
“20 percent of the severance allowance is to be donated to the family of Leah Sharibu while 20 percent is also to be paid to the family of Hauwa Liman, the aid worker brutally murdered by Boko Haram after she was captured.
“Another 20 percent is to be donated to the family of the second aid worker, Hussaini Ahmed Khoisan, also murdered in the same circumstance by Boko Haram.
“The remaining 40 percent should be used by the National Assembly Management to set up a TRUST FUND that will assist children of deceased members of the Eighth Senate who are in financial need for their education.”