 |
| Peter Obi at Abagana IDPs Camp |
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has asserted that Nigeria has been turned to IDP camp under Buhari’s government.
He said this on Sunday while celebrating Christmas with the internally displaced persons at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Abagana, Makurdi.
Obi said so long as there are some internally displaced persons scattered across Nigeria, is identified as IDPs camp.
“What you are passing through is what Nigeria is passing through.
“As long as you remain here in the camp, Nigeria is not doing well. It is my desire that you will leave this camp and continue to do what you know best to do, which is farming.
“As long as you remain in IDP camp, Nigeria is in IDP,” he said.
Since 2015, there has been proliferation of IDPs camps in Nigeria as displaced persons flee from insurgents and bandits who continue to invade and sack villages and communities, especially in the North.
Benue State has witnessed so much of invasion by bandits alleged to be herdsmen on expansionist mission.
Speaking with the IDPs, the former Anambra governor said that their plight would not continue, urging them to have hope that they would soon go back to their ancestral homes.
Mr Obi explained that why he decided to come to the IDP to celebrate Christmas with the displaced persons is that he can’t celebrate Christmas in his house while fellow Nigerians camped against their wishes in IDP camps.
“I cannot celebrate while you are in camps hence the decision to celebrate with you,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, who was present at the camp said that Mr Obi was the only presidential candidate that visited and celebrated Christmas with the IDPs.
Mr Shior said that Benue State has total of 19 IDPs camps — 12 officially recognised IDPs camps, and 7 unofficial camps hosting thousands of displaced persons.
He commended Obi for visiting to encourage and give hope to the over 10,000 IDPs in Abagana IDPs camp, and for donating N3 million to them.