Dogara: I gave my house to IDPs

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has advised spirited individuals to support the government in providing for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country, disclosing that he gave out one of his houses in Yobe sate to IDPs.

Speaking on Sunday when he visited an IDPs camp in Benin City, Edo state capital, Dogara urged IDPs not to lose hope in overcoming their current situation and assured them that government was doing everything possible to return them to their various communities.

He urged them not to lose hope in overcoming their current situation and assured them that government was doing everything possible to return them to their various communities.

“When I came in here I saw a people who are determined not to be broken down in spite of the circumstances that surround them,” Turaki Hassan, Dogara’s special adviser on media and public affairs, quoted him as saying.

“I must encourage you. I am of the region of the north where you came from and I am also affected.

“I had to concede one of my houses for IDPs from Yobe and Borno state to live in.

“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 and I know that 40 per cent 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. Some countries have passed through similar or even worse situations but with faith in God and determination they emerged stronger.”

Dogara further expressed government’s commitment to rebuilding the north-east with parts of the recovered loots by the government.

He said it was by divine intervention that the country was not taken over by insurgents.

The lawmaker told the IDPs that they would return to their communities very soon, saying the present government has the priority of wiping out insurgency in the country.