Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said Nigeria should be safe for all its inhabitants, irrespective of where they choose to live.
He said no Nigerian should live or be treated as a refugee in any part of their fatherland.
Obi made the clarification in a statement to mark the World Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Day 2021, with theme: Together We Heal, Learn and Shine.
The former governor noted that the increasing insecurity and poverty levels in Nigeria were constantly turning many people into refugees due to their inability to provide their basic needs of life.
He said insecurity and violence in different trouble spots across the land have produced more refugees with many residents struggling for survival in different internally displaced persons’ (IDPs’) centres.
Obi said: “Nigeria is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of internally displaced persons (DPs). About 2.1 million people are internally displaced in Nigeria, irrespective of the vast mineral and natural resources the country is blessed with.
“Many of these are victims of leadership failure that bred poverty, terrorism, banditry and insecurity in the country.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain urged the government and the well-to-do in the society to empathise with the refugees and help them, not only to survive but to thrive and fulfill their dreams in life.
He said: “Refugees, like us, have dreams and aspirations. Governments must advance the cause of their welfare and create enabling environment for them to thrive. Individuals and organisations must ‘lend a helping hand’ to them and help them live fulfilled lives.”
Leave a Reply