Peter Obi Visits Niger Flood Victims, Donates N20m Amidst Government Inaction
In a move that has drawn national attention to the seeming neglect of disaster victims by their own government, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has donated N20 million to flood victims in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Obi made the donation during a visit to the state on Monday, where he also pledged to personally visit the affected families and offer moral support a gesture that many say starkly contrasts the muted response from the state authorities.
The flood disaster, which struck Mokwa communities last week, left a devastating toll: at least 153 people confirmed dead and over 100 still missing. Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, the response from the Niger State Government has been slow and largely symbolic, with no substantial relief effort reported beyond public condolences.
Obi was received at the Niger State Government House in Minna by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba a visit that many citizens have described as a wake-up call to the government. While the Deputy Governor thanked Obi for his generosity, critics have pointed out that it took the intervention of an opposition figure for real financial aid to reach victims.
The former Anambra State Governor, known for his humanitarian efforts, expressed deep sympathy to the people of Niger State and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls. He urged the government to do more in providing immediate relief and long-term support to the victims’ families.
Many Nigerians are now questioning why the Niger State Government, with its access to federal allocations and disaster management agencies, has yet to provide significant support or compensation to the victims. The tragedy has once again exposed the cracks in Nigeria’s emergency response systems and the disconnect between state governments and the people they govern.
Observers have called for greater accountability and proactive governance, noting that Peter Obi’s intervention as commendable as it is should not substitute the role of the state in disaster management.
Reference
Peter Obi Visits Niger Flood Victims, Donates N20m Amidst Government Inaction