The Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has asked other presidential candidates to close ranks and donate to victims of flood disasters across the country.
Obi made the plea when he visited the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Wednesday at his residence in Abuja.
Obi who said the visit is to intimate the Governor of his plans to visit flood victims in the state, also revealed that he was suspending his campaign tours until he visited Nigerians affected by the natural disaster across the country.
While stating that the welfare and concern for flood victims are more compelling, the LP flagbearer said, “I am here to take permission from the Benue State governor to visit some communities affected by the floods in his state. After Benue, I will visit two or more states for the same reason.
“I believe it is worth doing because we have lost many lives and more others displaced. We can’t behave like they don’t matter and go on tour for the campaign.
“I am also calling on other presidential candidates to do the same.
“We have to visit and show those victims love and concern. They are our citizens and all our campaigns should be for their good first.
After the visits, then my campaign tours can commence.”
He added, “I also want to spare some resources for them and would want others to do the same. If we can pay huge amounts of money to buy presidential tickets, then it should not be too much to extend some support to our people in such distress.”
Acknowledging the visit, Governor Ortom thanked Obi for his kind heart, as he challenged Nigerians to vote wisely and choose the right person to lead the country in the coming poll.
“Our people are suffering and that should be enough. We are discussing the welfare of over 200 million people and I task the Nigerian voters to take the right decision.
“They are three major parties in the race, and that includes my party, PDP, the Labour Party, and APC. I want Nigerians to choose wisely for the good of our future.
“And, I have to tell you that if I were not a member of the PDP, I would have been campaigning for Peter Obi.”
Earlier this week, the federal government announced that over 600 Nigerians have lost their lives in the worst flooding disaster to hit the country in a decade.
States affected include Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa and Rivers states. The floods have displaced at least 50,000 Nigerians from their homes and livelihood.