The leadership of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno and Niger states have made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to reinstate Dr. Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The IDPs fondly recalled the significant improvements in their lives during Dr. Edu’s four-and-a-half-month tenure.
At Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, which hosts over 52,000 IDPs from various local government areas, Usman Monguno, an IDP for the past five years, praised President Tinubu for his commitment to alleviating the suffering of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly IDPs.
He implored the President to reinstate Dr. Edu, noting that her tenure as Minister was marked by empathy and effective action in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Monguno reminisced about Dr. Edu’s visit to their camp, highlighting her personal interaction with the IDPs and supervision of relief material distribution.
He described her visit as a source of hope and a new lease on life for the camp residents. Monguno passionately appealed to President Tinubu, saying, “I fervently beg Mr. President to please bring back our Betta for better days.”
Kashim Muhammed, another IDP, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would recognize the importance of reinstating Dr. Edu, as she has not been indicted, charged, tried, convicted, or jailed.
Muhammed emphasized that her suspension is hindering the President’s poverty alleviation agenda, as her short tenure had significantly reassured vulnerable Nigerians of the government’s commitment to their well-being.
In Niger state, Abdullahi Ndako, speaking on behalf of 22,000 IDPs, recounted how bandit attacks displaced his community. He highlighted Dr. Edu’s prompt visit to Niger state with a message of renewed hope, empathy, and relief materials.
Ndako stressed that Dr. Edu’s suspension has left the IDPs feeling abandoned and urged President Tinubu to reinstate her to continue her impactful work.
Amina Muhammed, a mother of three, lamented the deteriorating conditions in the IDP camp since Dr. Edu’s suspension.
She recalled Dr. Edu’s promise to improve their living conditions and appealed to President Tinubu to reinstate her, saying, “I’m begging our Jagaban (President Tinubu) to reinstate the Hon. Minister to office; we miss her.”
The collective appeal from the IDPs underscores the significant positive impact Dr. Betta Edu had during her brief tenure and their hope for her reinstatement to alleviate their suffering.
