Emulate Peter Obi, Bode George Tells PDP To Suspend Campaigns Over Floods

• PDP chieftain, Bode George wants parties to suspend campaigns
• He want parties to emulate Peter Obi over incessant flooding
• The flooding has left over 600,000 people dead and millions displaced around the nation.

Bode George, a popular chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked political parties, including his party to suspend campaigns following the floods affecting several parts of Nigeria.

The former National Deputy Chairman of the main opposition PDP made this statement on Sunday Politics on Channels TV on Sunday.  in response to pleas from Nigerians, particularly Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, that parties should halt their campaigns in light of the severe flooding that has left over 600,000 people dead and millions displaced around the nation.

The PDP chieftain said political parties should suspend campaigns to show concern for the lives lost to the flooding disaster ravaging several parts of Nigeria.

“If you are campaigning to win the hearts of the Nigerian people, anything that will affect their state of mind should be your major concern.”

“Once you have a major concern – an environmental disaster of this level – it calls to reason that people should be empathic, people should show concern for the lives and properties of people there,” Bode Goerge said.

“I agree that suspending a campaign for one or two days and seeing how much you can contribute physically, financially, and morally to further strengthen the belief of the people that we have good managers who will run this country for them. It makes a lot of sense.”

Chief Bode backed up his claim by stating that it is absurd to run for office while many Nigerians are still dealing with the effects of the floods and their aftermath.

Therefore, he urged the PDP to take the initiative and cooperate with other parties to address the problem.

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“I would advise them to do the same because if we are going now and trying to woo the hearts and minds of the people, anything that would disrupt their perfect state of mind should also be our major concern,” Bode George maintained.

“It (suspending campaigns) makes a lot of sense both politically and also spiritually. You know you cannot close your eyes and pretend that you didn’t know what is happening and its terrible effects on the lives of our people.”

“I will plead with our party – the managers – to please suspend it and to also key in morally – the contribution to NEMA and whatever advice they would give to those in government and do something – so that it would be impactful on their mindset that this party has so much sympathy and concern; not only to take their votes.”

Following some of the worst flooding in decades, emergency services report that more than 600 people have died and at least 1.3 million are now homeless. Fears of a food crisis are growing as a result of rains washing away cropland and crops, DW reported.

The Extremely Vulnerable

UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said that 60 percent of those in need were children, who are at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning, and malnutrition.

The floods have affected 34 out of the 36 states in the country, and over 600 people have lost their lives, with 200,000 houses either partially or fully damaged.

In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, a total of 7,485 cases of cholera and 319 associated deaths were reported as of 12 October, and rains are expected to continue for several weeks, along with rising humanitarian needs.

“Children and adolescents in flood-affected areas are in an extremely vulnerable situation,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.

“They are particularly at risk of waterborne diseases and emotional and psychological distress. UNICEF is working closely with the Government and other partners to provide life-saving assistance to those who are most in need.”

Immediate priority needs for children include health, water, sanitation, and hygiene; as well as shelter and food.