Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu and other political office holders to spend their holidays in Nigeria. Obi made the call after a two-day visit to Sokoto State, where he met with different groups and visited the Ramin Kura Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp. He emphasized that experiencing first-hand the realities faced by Nigerians affected by insecurity and displacement would give leaders a better understanding of the difficulties confronting vulnerable citizens.
During his visit to the Ramin Kura IDP camp, Obi was met with dire living conditions. More than 1,000 displaced persons are currently living at the camp, with some families staying in makeshift structures and thatched rooms. Some rooms were occupied by as many as 10 people, while the camp lacked sufficient toilet facilities, a primary healthcare centre, and a basic school for children. Obi described the situation as particularly troubling given that residents had been forced to leave their communities because of insecurity.
Obi criticized what he described as inadequate attention to critical areas of development. He argued that the vulnerability of displaced Nigerians had been compounded by the failure to address their basic needs. The former governor disclosed that the Sokoto visit marked his 12th visit to an IDP camp across Nigeria, adding that he would continue to provide support to displaced persons.
Obi called on the government to improve the immediate living conditions of displaced Nigerians while intensifying efforts to address the security problems preventing them from returning home. He urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies to take immediate steps to address the needs of residents at the Ramin Kura camp. According to Obi, tackling the humanitarian situation must go alongside efforts to resolve the security challenges that forced thousands of Nigerians to abandon their homes.
The former governor emphasized that temporary shelters should be made more suitable for the displaced while authorities work towards creating conditions required for their safe return to their ancestral communities. Obi said, “I have always insisted that as long as even one Nigerian lives in an IDP camp, we are all internally displaced.” He made the statement in a statement shared on his X account.
Obi further urged leaders to spend their holidays in Nigeria to understand the difficulties faced by vulnerable citizens. He said, “This is why I continue to say that the President’s and political office holders’ holidays must be within Nigeria, so that they can see first-hand the difficulties faced by these fellow Nigerians.” Obi’s statement highlights the need for leaders to be aware of the challenges faced by Nigerians.
The call by Obi comes as many Nigerians continue to face difficulties due to insecurity and displacement. The issue has been compounded by the failure to address basic needs of displaced persons. Key issues that need to be addressed include the dire living conditions at IDP camps, inadequate attention to critical areas of development, and the need for leaders to be aware of the challenges faced by Nigerians.
Key points
- Peter Obi urges President Tinubu and other leaders to spend holidays in Nigeria.
- Dire living conditions at IDP camps need to be addressed.
- Insecurity and displacement continue to affect many Nigerians.
