The attention of the office of the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued from his office on the Kano market fire disaster on Saturday, March 26, 2016.
The statement quoted the Speaker as saying that it is only when people are godly that such incidents will cease to occur, thereby implying that the fire outbreak served as punishment for sins allegedly committed by businessmen and women in Sabon Gari market, Kano.
We wish to make it categorically clear that the said statement does not in any way reflect or represent the opinion and official position of Mr. Speaker.
As a responsible and responsive leader, the Rt. Hon. Speaker could never have blamed the incident on the same people who lost their properties worth millions of Naira in the inferno.
It would be recalled that Mr. Speaker sent a powerful and strong delegation of leaders and members of the House of Representatives to condole with the people and government of Kano State when a similar incident occurred last month.
We strongly believe that what the people need at this moment of their loss is empathy and not chastisement.
We apologise to all those who feel offended by the statement issued by one of the aides in the office without clearance from either Mr. Speaker or his senior aides.
Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara hereby uses this medium to express his empathy over the recurrent incident.
The Speaker also called for investigation by relevant authorities to unravel the cause (s) of the incessant fire disasters in Sabon Gari market, and condoled with those who lost their properties in a similar incident in Kebbi State.