Dogara weeps in Edo IDPs camp

Yakubu Dogara, House of Representatives Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday broke down in tears when he visited Internally Displaced Persons in Uhogua, Benin City, Edo state.

The Speaker who was in the camp to donate relief materials to the IDPs could not hold back his tears on sighting hundreds of orphaned children that constitutes majority of people in the camp.

Dogara also appealed to spirited individuals to help meet the needs of millions of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.

He made the call on Sunday in Benin City, Edo State when he visited thousands of Internally Displaced Persons from Adamawa and Borno state, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan.

The Speaker encouraged the IDPs not to lose hope assuring them that government is doing everything possible to return them back to their communities soon.

“When I came in here I saw a people who are determined not to be broken inspite of the circumstances that surround them. I must encourage you,” he adminished.

“I am part of the region of the north where you came from. I am also affected. I had to concede one of my houses for IDPs from Yobe and Borno state to live in.”

The Speaker urged the people to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness saying “the situation we found ourselves is not just peculiar to us but has been happening in the course of human history.”

“It is painful, very painful..you may remember how you left and the people you left behind. Forty percent of you here are orphans. You may be tempted to always cast your mind back over what happened to you. Once you are stuck in that you will be filled with bitterness and anger and if that happens you can’t make progress. I know it is difficult but we have to take our minds off it.”