Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure communities affected by terrorism and create conditions for the safe and dignified return of displaced Nigerians to their ancestral homes.
Obi made the call after visiting an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where he said more than 500 displaced persons were being accommodated.
The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a Facebook post following his earlier attempt to visit victims of attacks in Yelwata, Benue State.
According to Obi, his delegation was prevented from proceeding to Yelwata, where he had planned to visit displaced Nigerians and families affected by recent attacks. He subsequently travelled to Mangu to meet displaced persons there.
He described the situation in Mangu as ‘deeply disturbing’, alleging that more than 45,000 people had been displaced and over 20 communities sacked by terrorists.
‘These are Nigerians who want nothing more than to return to their ancestral homes, rebuild their communities, cultivate their farms, and live their lives in peace and dignity,’ Obi said.
He urged the government to do more to protect affected communities and restore the confidence of residents who had been forced from their homes.
Obi stressed that security and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights should not be determined by ethnicity, religion, location or political affiliation.
‘The right to life, safety, dignity and livelihood must be protected for every Nigerian, irrespective of where they live, their ethnicity, religion or political affiliation,’ he said.
The NDC presidential candidate also warned against allowing displaced Nigerians to become forgotten victims of the country’s security challenges.
‘Our displaced citizens must not become forgotten Nigerians,’ he said, adding that the government must provide the conditions necessary for their safe return while supporting them to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
Obi said displacement had disrupted not only the homes of affected Nigerians but also their livelihoods and future prospects, particularly for farming communities whose ability to cultivate their land had been affected by insecurity.
He maintained that the restoration of peace and security must therefore include the protection of communities, recovery of livelihoods and rehabilitation of displaced populations.
During the visit, Obi said he offered what he described as his ‘modest support’ to displaced families as a gesture of solidarity and compassion.
He reiterated his vision of a Nigeria where citizens can live, work, farm, raise families and pursue their aspirations without fear.
‘As long as there is one displaced Nigerian, all Nigerians are displaced,’ Obi said.