Woman who donated N1 million to support Buhari for his presidential campaign dies

My dream is to see a day that Buhari will win the (presidential) election and be sworn into office. That day, I will slaughter a cow, cook plenty food and throw a big party. I have told them that I will declare free food at my shop for everybody including those in the town and villages to come and celebrate.”

That was a statement of the now late Fatima Koko, who donated N1 million to Muhammadu Buhari presidential campaign organisation in January 2015.

She lived long enough to see her dream fulfilled. Her age was put at 95. Koko’s death was announced on Saturday by the Kebbi State government.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed his sadness over the death of the campaign benefactor, popularly called Maitalle Tara, who in 2015 donated N1 million, reportedly her life savings, to his campaign as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

She reportedly waited nine hours in Kebbi early last year to donate the money to Buhari.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President described the deceased as “a woman with a good heart, who stood by her convictions, and gave sacrificially.”

Buhari commended Koko’s conviction and sacrificial giving, urging Nigerians to learn from her good example.

“She gave practically all she had towards our campaign. Though well advanced in age, she still believed a new Nigeria was possible, and followed her conviction with action. What generosity of spirit and what tenacious faith in her motherland. Nigerians, old and young, have a lot to learn from her,” the President said.

Buhari condoled with the family and relations of the deceased and urged them to take solace in the fact that their matriarch lived to a ripe old age.

While noting with delight that Koko saw the beginning of the change she had long yearned for, the President said the onus was now on all Nigerians to ensure that the change gets entrenched and solidified for generations yet unborn to benefit from.

The President also sympathised with the governor and people of Kebbi State, whom he said would all miss the sterling qualities of Koko.

He added that the life of the departed will serve as a standard to imitate “in the service of God, humanity and country.”