Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, led the Obidient Movement’s leadership and the newly appointed caretaker committee to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday. The visit was to express condolences to Governor Babagana Zulum and the people of the state following the recent devastating floods.
During the visit, Obi donated N50 million to the emergency relief fund and lamented the tragic loss of lives and widespread property damage caused by the disaster.
This was revealed in a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, in Abuja. Obi was joined by his 2023 running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed; Senator Nenadi Usman, Chairman of the caretaker committee; Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement; and other party leaders.
The delegation paid respects to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, and visited the spare parts market, where traders suffered significant losses. They also stopped at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Government College, where they encountered thousands of displaced people, including a woman who tragically lost her newborn twins to the flood.
The statement emphasized the Labour Party’s commitment to supporting those affected by the disaster:
“We will continue to stand with the people of Borno, providing aid and resources to help them rebuild and recover from this tragedy. As the people of Borno navigate this challenging time, they are not alone. We are dedicated to alleviating the suffering caused by the floods, which have submerged over half of Maiduguri and displaced thousands of residents.”
Obi also expressed gratitude to the various levels of government, particularly the Borno State government, for their efforts in assisting the flood victims. He concluded by offering prayers for the affected families and hopes for a swift recovery for those still in the hospital, while extending his best wishes to the people of Borno and Nigeria as a whole.