Benue flood threat to food security, health – Obi declares

Peter Obi, Presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), has described the destruction of farmlands and other properties by flood in Benue State as a threat to food security and health of residents.

Obi who was in Makurdi on an assessment tour visited some of the submerged residents, farms and businesses of flood victims as well as camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to see things for himself blamed the federal government for not adhering to early warnings to nip in the bud the perennial flood.

Addressing the victims at Rice Mill in Wadata area of Makurdi the state capital, Obi noted that the flood was not an accident, adding that since the destruction caused by flood was much, he decided to suspend his campaign to go round the country to visit and sympathize with victims.

The Labour Party candidate also attributed inflation of food prices in the country to incessant attacks on the farming population in the state saying, “If I become president, I will bring a permanent solution to the problem of herders/farmers.”

Earlier, the secretary to the state government (SSG), Professor Anthony Ijoho (SAN), who conducted Obi round the affected areas, appreciated him for identifying with the Benue people in times of need emphasizing that he was the only presidential candidate that has come to visit the victims.