Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, the House of Representatives contestant in the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of
Benue State, has called for a suspension of political campaigns over the floods in parts of Benue, Kogi and Anambra states.
In a statement released to the media Friday, Jonathan-Ichaver said “in view of the scale of the floods in our beloved country resulting in the deaths of more than 500 citizens and in over 1.5 million people being displaced, I am suspending my campaign for the next seven days in solidarity with flood victims during which time, I will be supporting relief efforts for flood victims across the country”.
She called on fellow political candidates in all parties across the country to do the same while urging federal and state government ministries, departments and agencies, especially the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development, the National Emergency Management Agency and all State Emergency Management Agencies in affected states to ramp up relief efforts and ensure all affected families are provided with relief.
“I also call for a Commission of Inquiry to be set up to investigate this disaster and for concrete, urgent preventive measures to be taken to prevent such disasters going forward. And for any concerned persons found by this Commission to have been derelict in their duties of preventing such a disaster to be brought to justice,” the candidate added.
“My campaign team and I,” she added, “commiserate and stand with the families of those who have lost loved ones to this most unfortunate disaster and with the displaced”.
Campaigns for the 2023 general elections started on September 21 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave the greenlight for parties to begin conversing for votes from the electorate.