Obi Suspends Campaign, Urges Tinubu, Atiku to Join Him in Helping Flood Victims Across Nigeria

By Olisemeka Sony

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), has announced temporary suspension of his campaigns to enable him focus on mobilizing humanitarian assistance for victims of flood disaster that swept through 31 out of 36 states across Nigeria.

The former Anambra governor also urged the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend their campaigns and join hands in the relief efforts.

Obi made the call while addressing journalists after his visit to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, at his Abuja private residence where he had gone to discuss modalities on his planned visit to flood sites in Benue and other states, hit by rising flood water, which has driven people from their home, and even caused fatalities in some instances.

He said: “I called on HE Samuel Ortom to commiserate with him on the ravages of floods in Benue State resulting in huge losses of lives, properties and farmlands and massive displacement. Informed him of my intent to visit some of the affected areas and discussed how we as presidential candidates cn assist affected states. I recall that in 2012, Benue, Anambra and others were similarly affected and the FGN and Nigerians rallied in support of victims, especially the IDPs.”

Obi, said he expected other presidential candidates to show concerns to the plight of victims of flooding, considering how millions were spent on nomination forms alone.

Obi said: “we can’t be campaigning while the rest of Nigerians are dying from the impact of flood while others are homeless, but we must find a way of assisting.”

The flood, which hit communities in the recent weeks, had swept away houses and farmlands, states of Lagos, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia States, and the Federal Capital Territory.