Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 elections, on Sunday celebrated Christmas at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Abagana, Makurdi, Benue State.
The former Anambra State Governor said the IDPs should have hope they would soon go back to their ancestral homes.
Obi said: “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 like 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.”
Obi expressed joy at celebrating Christmas with the displaced persons, saying 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, Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, said that Obi was the only presidential candidate that visited and celebrated Christmas with the IDPs.
Shior said the state has 12 officially recognised IDPs camps and seven unofficial camps hosting thousands of displaced persons.
He said that 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.
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