The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu donated N50 million to support the victims of the Katsina Central Market affected by the inferno that destroyed properties on Monday.

Mr Tinubu’s donation is considered politically motivated philanthropy as the politician who is eyeing the 2023 presidential slot has not been recorded to make any donation to victims of the dozens of market fire mishaps that befell his Lagos base in the recent past.

In August 2020 at least 14 shops and 16 kiosks were razed down by early morning fire at the Adeniji Adele Market in central Lagos. This January, Alade Market in Somolu, mainland Lagos, over 70 lock up shops stocked with goods were burnt as emergency responders scampered to salvage 100 others, while 62 traders and scores of household rue their losses in the Ijesha Market fire. No record of public succour was made by Mr Tinubu to victims of these infernos.

The former Lagos governor visited the Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari on Wednesday, to condole with the state government and people affected by the fire incident.

Mr Tinubu who addressed a press conference in Katsina explains that the purpose of his visit to the states is to sympathise with the victims, while he emphasises that there is a need to promote unity and brotherhood among Nigerians.

Mr Tinubu encouraged traders to commence commercial activities in the market despite the level of damages caused by the fire.

A blazing inferno engulfed the Katsina Central Market Monday morning. Belated efforts by the Fire Service to put out the fire counted for little as many properties were burnt down.

Traders affected by the fire were unable to point to the cause of the fire at the market, some government stakeholders had visited the scene where the fire occurred.

Peoples Gazette exclusively reported how Mr Tinubu has become a subject of urgent interest to the nation’s anti-graft body, EFCC, who are scrupling his asset declaration documents with the Code of Conduct Bureau for possible infringements.

The APC leader was a major supporter of  President Muhammadu Buhari candidacy during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, and is hoping that Mr Buhari’s North will return the favour in 2023. 

The major wedge to his ambition has, however, been from some of the region’s top power brokers who loathe his primitive wealth acquisition.

His junket across the North, as well as his show of support to victims, is seen as a ploy to warm himself into the hearts of the critical mass of the region.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the amount Mr Tinubu donated to Katsina fire victims. It was N50 million, not N500 million.