The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, yesterday led a delegation of members of the National Executive Committee of the party to Makurdi on a condolence visit to the government and people of Benue State.
They were in the state to commiserate with the people over the recent attacks on some rural communities there which led to scores of deaths and destruction of properties.
The PDP national leadership donated relief items to the government for displaced victims of the attacks currently taking refuge in camps across the state, and those comprised mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, plastic water buckets and assorted food items.
Speaking during the presentation of the relied items at the headquarters of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Makurdi, the PDP Deputy National Chairman expressed deep sympathy over the attacks which he described as inhuman and lamented the displacement of people from their homes to places of temporary refuge under conditions of hardship.
He said it was out of the deep concern for the plight of the victims that the PDP decided to reach out to them with relief materials, even as he called on the federal government to ensure that peace is restored to the effected areas and the displaced persons returned to their homes.
The Deputy National Chairman also emphasised the need for lasting measures to be put in place to forestall a repeat of the attacks, and prayed God to repose the souls of the victims in peace and console those bereaved of their deaths.
Also speaking, State Chairman of the party, Sir John Ngbede, expressed gratitude to the new leadership of the party under National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, for reacting to the crisis by the relief visit.
He said the visit and relief items donated were a reflection of the humane disposition of the PDP towards the wellbeing of all Nigerians, which he added has been one of the remarkable traits of the party since its founding, in and out of power.
Ngbede reiterated the call by the PDP national leadership for the federal government to provide enough security to forestall a re occurrence of the attacks which he lamented have become one too many.
Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mike Gusah, received the relief materials on behalf of the State Government, and in his remarks thanked the PDP national leadership for its gesture of goodwill to the government and people of Benue State in their time distress.
He commended the gesture as being in line with the true meaning and practice of democracy which should place at all times the well-being of the people over and above partisan interests.
Mr. Gusah further pledged that the donated items will be judiciously applied to help alleviate the hardship being faced by the displaced persons.
Also on the delegation was the National Publicity Secretary of the party, veteran journalist, Dr. Kola Olgbondiyan, who described the visit as a homecoming for him, even as he deeply empathised with the people of the state.
Dr. Ologbondiyan who once served as Special Adviser on Media to then Senate President, Senator David Mark, expressed a sense of personal loss over the calamity owing to what he described as his close ties with the people of the state.
Also on the delegation were Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo; National Youth Leader. Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye S.K.C, and Ms. Divine Amina Arong, the Deputy National Auditor.
National Vice-Chairman (North-Central), Hon. Theophilus Dakas-Shan and Secretary of the Zone, Hon. Maurice Tsav and National Ex-Officio Member, Prince Yandev Amaa-Bai.
Members of the Benue State Exco, elders and stalwarts of the party in the state, including 2019 governorship aspirants, Engr Felix Atume, Dr. Gabriel Tivlumun Nyitse, Dr. Paul Orhii as well women and youths were also present on the visit.
