Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called on the government to intensify efforts to end insecurity and create the necessary conditions for Nigerians displaced by banditry to return to their communities.
Obi made the call on Tuesday during a visit to an Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in the Ramin Kura area of Sokoto State, where he interacted with displaced residents and assessed their living conditions.
He said the continued displacement of Nigerians was unacceptable, particularly in a country that was not at war, stressing that the government must guarantee the safety of those willing to return home.
According to him, “From the interaction we have had with the people, they want to return to their place. What is the assurance you are giving Nigerians that these people will live in their abode?”
Obi added, “As long as Nigerians live in IDP camps, the entire country is living in an IDP camp. This is unacceptable. That’s why we say we’ll deal decisively with this situation of insecurity so our people can go back.
“No Nigerian should live in an IDP camp. We’re not at war. Even if we’re at war, we should know and take care of them.”
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over the conditions at the camp, particularly the absence of healthcare and educational facilities for the displaced persons.
He said he encountered a child with an injured hand and was informed that there was no primary healthcare facility available to attend to residents.
“There’s no hospital here. I asked them. I saw a child with a broken hand. There’s no primary healthcare to take care of their health. There’s no school for the children. It’s unacceptable in our country today,” Obi said.
He said the conditions under which the displaced persons were living demonstrated the need for the government to prioritise their safe return rather than allowing them to remain in camps indefinitely.
On his immediate support to the camp, Obi said his visit was primarily to monitor the situation and listen to the concerns of the displaced persons.
He, however, said he had made a personal contribution to support the residents, while stressing that individual donations could not replace the responsibility of government.
“My intervention is just monitoring. I have given them my contribution. But that’s not what it should be. The government should take care of the situation by ensuring that this situation should not be there,” he said.
Obi also said he would continue to visit IDP camps and communities across the country to hear directly from Nigerians affected by insecurity.
“I will be visiting IDP camps across this country every time I move out. I’ve been in Sokoto since yesterday, moving from one area, meeting one group or the other, because we want to listen to the people. We want to see for ourselves,” he said.