Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has visited traders affected by the recent fire outbreak at Eda Plaza in Jabi, Abuja, where more than 45 shops were reportedly destroyed.
Obi, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said he visited the plaza on Tuesday to sympathise with traders who lost their businesses and belongings in the inferno.
During the visit, he said he met some of the affected traders, many of whom were still clearing debris and attempting to recover whatever could be salvaged from the ruins.
Obi expressed sympathy to the victims and pledged to support them, within his capacity, as they begin efforts to rebuild their businesses and livelihoods.
He noted that for many of the affected traders, their shops represented years of hard work, savings and sacrifice, stressing that the impact of the fire extended beyond the destruction of physical structures and goods.
“What was lost is therefore far more than physical structures and merchandise; livelihoods have been disrupted, dreams have been set back, and families have been placed under additional hardship,” he said.
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Obi reiterated his call for governments at all levels to prioritise the welfare of citizens, particularly during periods of crisis and vulnerability.
According to him, leadership should not only be judged by infrastructure and projects delivered by government, but also by how authorities respond when citizens suffer devastating losses.
He prayed for the affected traders to receive the strength and resources needed to recover from the incident and rebuild their businesses.
“I pray that God Almighty grants the affected traders the strength, resources and opportunity to recover from this painful loss, and that their businesses and livelihoods will be restored,” Obi said.
