According to Peter Obi, the Labour Party's candidate for president, "as long as there are internally displaced people dotting Nigeria, all Nigerians may be deemed to be living in an internally displaced persons' camp" (LP).
At the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Abagana, Makurdi, where he celebrated Christmas with the poor, Mr Obi made the statement on Sunday.
Speaking with the IDPs, Mr Obi assured them that their misery will end and encouraged them to hold out hope for a speedy return to their ancestral homes.
“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.
Under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria has witnessed a proliferation of IDP camps as displaced persons flee from insurgents and bandits who continue to sack villages and communities, especially in the Northeast and North-Central.
Benue has had its unfair share of invasion by bandits alleged to be herdsmen on an expansionist mission.
Mr Obi expressed joy at celebrating Christmas with the displaced persons, saying that he was unhappy to see 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.
Earlier, Dr Emmanuel Shior, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that Mr Obi was the only presidential candidate that visited and celebrated Christmas with the IDPs.
Mr Shior said that the state has 12 officially recognised IDPs camps and seven unofficial camps hosting thousands of displaced persons.
He said that Mr Obi had visited to encourage and give hope to the over 10,000 IDPs in Abagana IDPs camp, stating that he donated N3 million to them.
(NAN)