Peter Obi, Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, on Wednesday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, stressed that Nigerians cannot continue to be killed incessantly without government’s intervention.
Speaking at the Rayfield Government House in Jos while addressing the Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, the former governor of Anambra State decried the inability of authorities to stop the perpetrators.
Obi’s remarks, which were made on his 62nd birthday, was a reference to recent carnage in parts of the state where about 300 persons were killed, and properties worth millions of naira destroyed by gunmen.
He disclosed that his decision to visit Plateau, and to the internally displaced persons in Mangu Local Government Area, on the occasion of his birthday, was to show support to the people and also commiserate with them over the needless killings in parts of the state.
“I would like to commend the governor for his relentless efforts to see that these killings stop. For us as Nigerians, it is time to be with our people especially in this trying period. Nigerians cannot continue to get killed in their homes unprovoked and we fold our arms. We cannot compensate for a life lost, we can only show support. We must do everything within our means to bring this barbaric killings to an end.
“We must go back to the Plateau we used to know. A Plateau where people from various parts of life come to organise events and enjoy the beauty of Plateau. I call on security agencies to collaborate and bring these perpetrators to justice,” the LP presidential flag bearer added.
This is as he told the people of Plateau of his unwavering support to end the killings, adding that Plateau was known to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria with a beautiful weather and serene environment.
Governor Mutfwang on his part wished the LP presidential candidate a happy birthday and thanked him for his visit to his state, noting that “Mangu has been in the news a lot because it was one of the most peaceful areas of the state.”
He pointed out that “loosing over 300 lives in the space of two months is a national disaster that must stop and so we are determined to fight to the end to ensure Plateau State remains the home of peace and tourism.
“You have changed the political landscape in Nigeria. We share a similar vision of a Nigeria that works where the children of the poor can also be recognised, where every Nigerian can sleep without fear of being killed. We as a government are committed to this task and we promise to do our best.”
Obi moved from the Government House to the paramount traditional ruler of Mangu where he donated 100 bags of rice and N5 million to the victims of Mangu attacks.
[DailyIndependent]