Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, spent his birthday on Wednesday, July 19, with Internally Displaced Persons in Mangu local government area of Plateau state.
The area has been subjected to intense attacks by militia groups in the past few weeks.
A group in the area, the National Association of Mangu People, recently claimed that over 500 farmers had been killed by the militia groups in the last few months.
To identify with the 18,000 victims, who are camped in different public buildings in the area, Obi visited them to celebrate his birthday with them.
He handed cheques and truckloads of food items to them. Happy Birthday Mr Peter Obi.
Before visiting the victims, Obi paid a courtesy call to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who is a former chairman of Mangu local government area.
The governor thanked the LP presidential candidate for identifying with the people during their pain and need.
Obi then proceeded to the traditional ruler’s palace in the area before eventually visiting the residents in their various camps.
Prophet Isa El-Buba, a prominent cleric in Jos, the Plateau state capital, accompanied him on all the visits.
Writing about Obi’s visit, Prophet Buba wrote on Twitter:
”Today I went with H.E Mr Peter Obi to visit the displaced men and women of Mangu local government, Plateau state, to spend time with them.
”We must stop this injustice because many men and women have been displaced from their homes and families. God bless Nigeria.”
Recall that the former governor of Anambra state had asked his supporters not to celebrate his birthday lavishly but to donate to good causes around them in his honour.
During the presidential election, Obi won Plateau state convincingly, defeating Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party candidate Atiku Abubakar in the north-central state.