Part of recovered looted funds for rebuilding of North-East – Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday disclosed that part of the recovered looted funds would be used for the rebuilding of the terrorism-ravaged North-East region.

Dogara said this while addressing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Adamawa and Borno states, sojourning in Benin City, Edo State.

The speaker, who shed tears when he visited the IDPs and sighted hundreds of orphaned children that constitute majority of the people, donated relief materials to the camp.

He also pledged to write off the fees of hundreds of students who sat for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Administration and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB).

He also appealed to good spirited individuals to help meet the needs of millions of IDPs in Nigeria, encouraged the IDPs not to lose hope, assuring them that government was 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 in spite of the circumstances that surround them. I must encourage you,” he admonished, saying “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 states 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.”

He told the people to put their trust in God because “where people have trusted God there is no situation that God cannot change.”

Some countries have passed through similar or even worse situations, but with faith in God and determination they emerged stronger, he said, citing the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as example.

“As long as this government endures, you will always be in our heart. Thank God for the change. If we had continued like before, probably Boko Haram will have taken over Jos, Platuea State by now,” he said.

However, the speaker said divine intervention saved the country from being taken over by Boko Haram terrorists, saying, “God had mercy on us in response to our prayers and change came and we are committed to ending this violence.

“Very soon may be in this year some of you may go back home to your communities. This is something we must do because we have no other country than Nigeria.”

He urged the pastor of the church hosting the IDPs and orphans, Solomon Olorunsho, to be faithful in catering for their needs, as God would multiply his ministry.

“If God has trusted you pastor with these souls and you manage them well, there will be an explosion in this ministry. If you faithfully cater for them and take care of their needs in no distant time this ministry will explore.”

He further expressed gratitude to the people and government of Edo State for hosting the IDPs.

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA