The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi CON, on Monday, February 20, 2012, led the Bank’s management team and other executives of the Bank to Madallah to commiserate with Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church.
Governor Sanusi informed the leaders of the church and other parishioners that the management of the Bank was there to express their condolence and to commiserate with the Church and the Madallah community who were affected by the unfortunate incident. He stated that what happened was despicable, in that it took place at a holy place and on a holy day- Christmas. According to Mallam Sanusi, “when you bomb a Church on a Sunday or Christmas day and a Mosque on a Friday or Eid day, such actions have implications far beyond the immediate faithfuls or community”.
Mallam, Sanusi stated that as a responsible corporate citizen, the CBN in 2006, came up with a policy framework on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which was approved by the Board. Thus, in keeping with this policy, the Committee of Governors met and took a decision to donate in order to alleviate the plight of those affected in Madallah and Kano. The CBN Governor said that the CBN Management went to Kano on Friday, and planned to be at Madallah the next Monday, but was told on Saturday that the Bishop of Minna, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwe Uzoukwu was away to Owerri. According to Mallam Sanusi, the Church fixed Thursday last week for the visit, but because he would be out of the country for an assignment, the Bank requested for Monday to ensure that the Governor was personally present at today’s event rather than send a representative.
He then announced a donation of N25m, noting that even though money could not compensate for lives, it was a token contribution to help the victims of the attack within and around the church.
The Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwe Uzoukwu thanked the CBN Governor and the Management of the Bank for their good gesture, stating that the CBN’s contribution will go a long way to help the victims.
Earlier, the Parish priest, Very Rev. Father Isaac Achi recounted the unfortunate incident on that Christmas morning that took the lives of 44 people, with many sustaining severe injuries. He stated that the coming of the CBN Governor was a testimony of the concern the Governor and his team has for the wellbeing of all Nigerians.
Some top members of the CBN management in the Governor’s entourage were the Deputy Governors, Operations, Economic Policy, and Corporate Services, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade and Alhaji Suleiman Barau respectively and other executives.
