• APC PWDs leader writes Minister, makes case for displaced persons
• Japanese PM sends condolence to Buhari over severe floods
‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has suspended campaign activities over the floods ravaging many parts of the country.
Mr Obi has also called on the candidates of other political parties to suspend their campaigns and join him to help the flood victims.
He said this when he visited the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in Abuja on Wednesday. His meeting with Mr Ortom was aimed at discussing modalities on his planned visit to flood sites in Benue and other states.
His call comes amid cases of floods that have hit parts of Nigeria in the last two months. Some affected states are Kogi, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau and parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said about 2.5 million persons are affected and over 603 persons killed by the flooding caused by the rains.
Addressing journalists, Mr Obi said he expected other presidential candidates to show concern to the plight of victims of flooding, considering how millions were spent on nomination forms alone.
He said everyone must work hard irrespective of political differences.
“I stopped and told my people no more campaigns until we’re able to visit some of the sites and at least sympathise with victims,” he said.
He vowed to fix Nigeria’s challenges if elected as the next president.
On his part, Mr Ortom admonished Nigerians to go into the 2023 general elections with the mindset of electing the best presidential candidate among the top three candidates.
Mr Ortom, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said all three candidates – Bola Tinubu of APC, Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Mr Obi, are competent and asked Nigerians to select “the best among them.”
Nigeria, he said, “currently runs on oxygen and would need a hands-on and detribalised leader to restore hope, development and progress.”
Meanwhile, following the ravaging flood that has affected major parts of the country, APC, PWDs National Leader, Hon Tolu Bankole, has asked for urgent palliative care for the individuals affected by the rampaging flood.
Hon Bankole also asked the minister in charge of disaster management to speedily give top priority to alleviating the suffering of victims.
In letter to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq dated October 18, the PWDs leader said:
“I write to request as a matter of urgency that you direct relevant agencies under the supervision of your ministry to deploy necessary interventions to ameliorate the precarious situation of vulnerable Nigerians occasioned by the recent flood situation in different parts of the country.
“I condole with families of those who lost their valued family members across the country due to the devastating flood and sympathise with those whose homes, farmlands and businesses have been lost as well.
“Meanwhile, despite the spirited efforts by various state governments to bring succour to the flood victims, tragic reports from Persons with Disabilities across the country meant that their is an urgent need for palliative intervention from your good office in the immediate to cushion the dire situation of PWDs and other vulnerable citizens.”
The recent flood has resulted in loss of lives and destruction of farmlands, houses, investments, properties, lives and infrastructures especially in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Kogi, Adamawa, Plateau, Yobe, Jigawa, and Anambra states.
While making case for the displaced persons, he added: “I ask that priority must be given to the rehabilitation resettlement and compensation of PWDs, and other vulnerable people whose lives have been grounded by this catastrophe.”
Japanese PM sends condolence to Buhari over severe floods
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has offered his condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari after severe floods claimed many lives and affected millions in the country.
In a message issued on Wednesday, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed deep sadness over ”the recent floods caused by heavy rainfall in many states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria which have claimed many precious lives and forced many people to evacuate.”
He said: ”On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families.
”My sympathies are with those who are affected and I sincerely pray for the prompt reconstruction of the affected areas.”
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