Peter Obi’s Call for Flood Victims in his Nature-POEM
By Joy Okosieme
The call by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party(LP) in the 2023 presidential election is not an attempt at political grandstanding or an attempt to seek votes, Peter Obi Express Media(POEM), has stated.
Tai Emeka Obasi, spokesman for the organization said in a statement that Obi was driven by his humanity to rally Nigerians to ease the suffering of their compatriots affected by the flooding in the country.
The clarification by POEM came in the wake of insinuations that Obi was capitalizing on the plight of Nigerians displaced by the flooding for political gain.
“Without structure, which the members of the old order claimed HE Peter Obi and the Labour Party did not have, the man in the news is suddenly the major point of attention in this campaign. Still over four months to the election, the opposition follow every move and listen to every comment the Labour Party presidential candidate makes.
“Yesterday, he visited Benue State to see the flood victims. Newsmen cornered him. He made his intentions clear. That he was suspending his campaign to visit the flood victims in all states of the Federation. He also called on other presidential candidates to follow suit. The opposition then went to town, claiming he was capitalising on the disaster for political gains. How shallow in reasoning can some people be!,” Obasi said.
He stated that while still the governor of Anambra State, flood devastated the state in almost same proportion as is being presently witnessed. He said Obi went straight to the victims, went into the flood with his team, evacuated and relocated the victims to IDP camps, promptly providing adequate food, clothing, medicals, security and general welfare.
“When the flood was over, he assisted victims to rebuild destroyed homes and resume normal lives. This happened in 2012, less than two years to the end of his second term. He was not going for any election. So, he didn’t do it for votes. He did it on impulse, because it is in his nature.
“He is a very compassionate person. It is in his blood to help the helpless. That is why he went into politics. He went into politics to help the masses; to create public wealth that will build a very strong society and subsequently nation instead of joining the cabal who are into politics to steal public wealth, impoverishing the society and leaving a very poor nation on their wake”, Obasi noted.
He said Obi as a leader recognizes that the strength of a nation is the people and that the more people are out of poverty, the richer and stronger that nation would be.
“That is why he wants to be president. He wants to create public wealth, where the people can and will happily pay taxes that will enrich Nigeria. A professor he met in Kellogg University over two decades ago educated him on that. He took it to heart, came home and became a governor about five years later. People thought another politician just came. Eight years later, ndi Anambra State saw the huge difference”, Obasi added.
The POEM spokesman recounted in detail how Obi responded to the flood disaster when it struck Anambra State.
“By 11.00 pm on September 30, 2012, HE Peter Obi had concluded plans for the Independence Day celebrations – the march past, the reading of Mr President’s speech and visit to less privileged. But all protocol would summersault when at 11.30 pm, his Secretary to the State Government, His Honour Oseloka Henry Obaze, made an emergency call to inform of an impending doom at Ogbaru, if the people were not instantly evacuated.
“Immediately, the governor ordered evacuation, promising to be in Ogbaru by 5.30 am. He handed the activities of the Independence Day to his deputy and was at Ogbaru by 5.45 am. To him, his people had to be alive first before any form of celebration.
“What he met on arrival was far worse than reported. And the situation was even very complex because the people refused to leave the homes and property for any IDP camp. The governor had to go into the flood to beg and promise the people that his government would assist them rebuild once the disaster was over. Because they knew he was a man of his words, they believed him and complied to be evacuated. By the time he was done convincing the first community, flood had already covered all the entire road through which he would leave. Obi and his team had to wade through the flood, which was as deep to waist level, to safety”, Obasi said.
Obasi said Obi spent the entire October 1 day moving from the communities of Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor, Amiyi, Atani, Mputu, Obeagwe, Ochuche, Odekpe, Ogbakuba, Ogwu-Aniocha, Ogwu-Ikpele, Ohita, Okpoko, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Umuodu, Umuzu and others swimming through the flood.
Obi said on popular tabloid captured the event with the headline, “Tragedy Averted as Obi Swims Through Flood at Osomala”.
He added that Obi had to talk to the people to agree to be evacuated to safe places – IDP camps that were quickly arranged. He said a large number of the victims were accommodated at the Anambra State Government House in Awka.
“By being physically on ground, thousands were evacuated to safety. From what followed, human losses would have been devastating as the state had never witnessed such flood devastation since inception”, Obasi said.
“The Labour Party presidential candidate had been there before. He knows what it cost the state then to manage the situation. He knows the situation the victims were in. He knows such victims need compassion and assistance from anywhere and everywhere. He is not embarking on any campaign stunt. He is a man who lives for the people”, Obasi added.
He said POEM is going beyond the presidential candidates to extend the call to all Nigerians that can assist in whatever way.
“The new Nigeria we are after is one where we must be our brothers’ keepers. A new Nigeria that Obi and Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed are guaranteed to evolve”, Obasi stated.
SEE PHOTOS OF OBI’S RESPONSE TO THE FLOOD IN ANAMBRA WHILST GOVERNOR OF THE STATE:
