* Urges other candidates to show compassion for fellow citizens
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has suspended campaign activities in expression of empathy for victims of the floods ravaging parts of the country.
Obi also called on the candidates of other political parties to suspend their campaigns and join him to help the flood victims.
The presidential hopeful announced this when he visited the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, in Abuja on Wednesday.
His meeting with Ortom was to discuss modalities on his planned visit to flood sites in Benue and other states.
His call comes amid cases of floods that have hit parts of Nigeria in the last two months.
Some of affected states are Kogi, Benue, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi. Other are Sokoto, Imo, Abia, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau and parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said about 2.5 million persons have been displaced while no fewer than 603 others killed by the flooding caused by the rains.
Obi said he expected other presidential candidates to show concern to the plight of victims of flooding, considering how millions were spent on nomination forms alone.
He said everyone must work hard irrespective of political differences.
“I stopped and told my people no more campaigns until we’re able to visit some of the sites and at least sympathise with victims,” he said.
He vowed to fix Nigeria’s challenges if elected president next year.