The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday broke down in tears when he visited Internally Displaced Persons in Uhogua, Benin City, Edo state.
The Speaker who was in the camp to donate relief materials to the IDPs could not hold back his tears on sighting hundreds of orphaned children that constitutes majority of people in the camp.
Dogara also appealed to spirited individuals to help meet the needs of millions of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.
He made the call on Sunday in Benin City, Edo State when he visited thousands of Internally Displaced Persons from Adamawa and Borno state, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan.
The Speaker encouraged the IDPs not to lose hope assuring them that government is doing everything possible to return them back to their communities soon.
“When I came in here I saw a people who are determined not to be broken inspite of the circumstances that surround them. I must encourage you,” he adminished.
“I am part of the region of the north where you came from. I am also affected. I had to concede one of my houses for IDPs from Yobe and Borno state to live in.”
The Speaker urged the people to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness saying “the situation we found ourselves is not just peculiar to us but has been happening in the course of human history.”
“It is painful, very painful..you may remember how you left and the people you left behind. Forty percent of you here are orphans. You may be tempted to always cast your mind back over what happened to you. Once you are stuck in that you will be filled with bitterness and anger and if that happens you can’t make progress. I know it is difficult but we have to take our minds off it.”
He told the people to put their trust in God because “where people have trusted God there is no situation that God cannot change.”
He said some countries have passed through similar or even worse situations than theirs but with faith in God and determination they will emerged stronger, citing the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as example.
Dogara told the IDPs that the present administration is committed to rebuilding the North East with parts of loots being recovered by the government.
“As long as this government endures you will always be in our heart. Thank God for the change. If we had continue like before probably Boko Haram will have take over Jos, Platuea state by now,” he said.
However, the Speaker said divine intervention saved the country from being taken over by Boko Haram terrorists saying, “God had mercy on us in response to our prayers and change came and we are committed to ending this violence.”.
“Very soon may be in this year some of you may go back home to your communities. This is something we must do because we have no other country than Nigeria.”
He further pledged to write off the fees of hundreds children who sat for the West African Examination Council, National Examination Council, and the Joint Administration, Matriculation Examination Board.
He urged the Pastor of the church hosting the IDPs and orphans Solomon A. Olorunsho to be faithful in catering for their needs as God will multiply his ministry.
“If God has trusted you pastor with these souls and you manage them well there will be an explosion in this ministry. If you faithfully cater for them and take care of their needs in no distant time this minsitry will explodes.”
He further expressed gratitudes to the people and government of Edo state for hosting the IDPs. “These our brothers and sisters travelled hundreds of kilometres and skipped communities and bye-passed many places before they settle here. That speaks to the nature of the people we have in this state. If they are not accommodating they wouldn’t have been here we thank Edo people.”
He said he will send more relief materials to the IDPs as this is the firstline of intervention.
Receiving the items on behalf of the IDPs, 10 year old Grace Ayuba, who is from Borno state expressed gratitude to the Speaker and prayed God to bless him the more.
He was accompanied by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management led by the chairman Hon. Jibrin Satumari.
