By Nicholas Ojo
The presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Wednesday urged his counterparts in other political parties to suspend their campaigns and join him to help victims of floods across states of the federation.
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More than 600 people have died in the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in more than a decade, according to the nation’s humanitarian affairs department.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said that as of Sunday, 603 people died, 2,407 people have been injured and 1.3 million people have been displaced.
Additionally, about 82,000 homes have been completely destroyed, 108,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged (raising concerns about Nigeria’s food supply) along with 332,000 hectares of roads and infrastructure, Farouq said.
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“I sympathize and condole the State Governments and people affected by the unprecedented flooding in our dear country. At times like this, we rally around to support one another.
“I must commend local Communities; who usually act as first responders for providing support to relatives, neighbors, and friends,” Farouq tweeted.
Farouq urged leaders in southern states lining the coast to evacuate people living along water channels and other areas that may block water flow.
However, Obi in a statement on Wednesday, while addressing journalists after his visit to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State at his Abuja private residence where he had gone to discuss modalities on his planned visit to flood sites in Benue and other states, explained that he expected other presidential candidates to show concern to the plight of victims of flooding, considering how millions were spent on nomination forms alone.