Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has called for special budget for vulnerable people in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the country.
Ozekhome, who is also a human rights lawyer made the call on Tuesday during his visit to the Durumi IDP camp in Area I in Abuja to commemorate his 67th birthday.
He called on the Federal Government to create a yearly budget for the vulnerable members of the society, saying without that, the country will continue to incubate a dangerous segment of the society.
”When the children among these people grow up and discover that society denied them of many privileges, they may take up arms.
“No one who is gainfully employed will begin carrying guns to live in the forest and start waylaying people. Some of these bandit are engaged in these acts as payback to an unaccommodating and unkind society.
“It is payback time. That is the way some of them see it when you talk to them. In order to build a just, egalitarian, equitable and fair society, the government must come to the aid of these deprived people.
“My message to the government is for these people to know that a government exists through welfare initiatives. It is enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution for welfare and security of the citizens,” Ozekhome stressed.
He said that he was in the camp to celebrate his birthday with the IDPs, as well as pay solidarity to them especially in the present hard times.
The human rights lawyer also called on private organisation and well-meaning Nigerians to continue to remember the less fortunate members of the society.
”I chose the Durumi IDP camp to celebrate my 67th birthday because the situation in the camp is very pathetic,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Ozekhome distributed food items, soft drinks and bottle water.
NAN also reports that the celebrant was accompanied to the camp by his wife, his children and well wishers.
Mrs Jumai Ibrahim, a beneficiary of the gift thanked the lawyer for his kind generosity and kindness.
”My family and I cannot remember when last we ate rice. God used the celebrant to bless us. I pray for more blessing for the celebrant, as well as long life,” she said.
