FLOOD: IPDI DECRIES NEGLECT OF RIVERINE COMMUNITIES IN DELTA, EDO, BAYELSA STATES

It is disgusting to note that despite the clamouring outcry of the ravaging effects of flood on riverine communities in Delta, BAYELSA, EDO states, no relief efforts have been made to ameliorate the flood effect among victims by the various state governments in the above states.

It appears that riverine communities are being neglected. A lot of riverine communities such as Ayakoromo, Bobogbene, Newtown, Gbekebo, Obotebe, Oruwaregbene, Oyangbene, Akparemo, Ekanmuta, Ogbeigbebe, Ofounibenghan, Agbodobiri, Egodo, Yayorogbene, Okpokunou, Enokorogha, Tuomo, Ogbogbeigbene, Torogbene, Ojobo, Tamigbe, Ekogbene, Ekumugbene, Abadama, Endoro ,Ekrangbene, Orugbene and others in Burutu LGA have been flooded but no critical effort has been put in place to address the plight of the victims.

While others affected, such as Kpakiama, part of Bomadi, Edegbene, Ogiriagbene and others in Bomadi LGA and Bolou_Angiama, Toru_Angiama, part of Patani, Agoloma and others in Patani LGA. Polobubo, Opuama, Sekelewu, and others in Warri North LGA both in Delta have been submerged and property worthy millions of naira are ravaging but Delta state governor Dr Ifeany Okowa has chosed to abandoned them. We are aware of how he is handling the flood issues in Delta North.

It is to our greatest dismay that when vice president visited the state, Okowa only took vice president to visit flood affected communities in Delta north, but never deem it fit to visit any of Delta south flood affected communities with vice president. This is a sign of neglect and disdain for Delta south people. Delta State is been sustained by Delta south and it is abysmal to receive such awkward treatment from Okowa we supported massively to bring him to power.

On a serious note ,residents of flooded communities are dying. No serious government will abandon it people to die. Our livelihood is fishing and farming, our lands have been invaded by mysterious flood, damaging crops and livestocks worth millions of naira. We have been sacked from our homes by flood, we are now homeless.We live in canoes and artificial platforms. Hunger is the order of the day as we can no longer farm or fish on our lands and rivers, yet no effort has been made to rescue affected communities.

It is worthy of note that Okowa provided money for the LGAs in Delta North to address the flood menace but in Delta south no money has been appropriated to various LGAs to evacuate flood victims from affected communities. No IDP camps have been put in place, no preparation is on ground to evacuate people been trapped by the flood in such communities.

We called some committee members in Delta state over ineptitude acts and gross neglect of their responsibilities, they told us, Okowa has not appropriated any fund to them to carry out their activities and that LGAs do not have money to fund such heavy task. It is pertinent to note that Okowa does not asked North LGAs to fund flood rescue activities, instead he appropriated fund and spear headed the relief efforts of flood affected communities in Delta North. Why is it asking Delta south LGA chairmen to fund such heavy task? It very appalling.

It is disgusting that Okowa is treating Delta south people with disdain and contempt. Money of the same volume appropriate to Delta North should be appropriated for Delta south flooded riverine communities in the state. Relief materials should be quickly provided. IDP camps be set_up in strategic places and majors be put in place to evacuate flood victims from such affected communities with immediate effect.

In same vain, BAYELSA communities such as Abedebiri, Adagbabiri, part of Amassoma,Ekeremor, Foutorogbene, Amabolu, Peretoro, Agalabiri etc are greatly affected by the flood, but up till now no IDP camp has been put in place, no effort to evacuate affected residents of such submerging communities. No relief materials has been send to relief the sufferings of the people. I described that as an act of gross negligence and bad governance. Governor Seriake Dickson should quickly swing into action and see how soon flood victims in the state will be alleviated.

Equally, Edo Ijaw communities are currently flooded but have been neglected by governor Godwin Obaseki. He is busy attending to other Benin flooded communities and Ijaw communities are utterly abandoned and excluded. We have always said Godwin Obaseki is tribalistic and cruel and do not fit to be a governor in 21st century. We want well_meaning leaders around the country to prevail to avoid bad blood among Ijaws and Edo government. Our people are humans and as such they should be treated as humans. He is a disappointment, abandoning Edo Ijaw flooded communities to die is satanic. He should repent and do justice to such people to escape God’s judgment.

Signed

Comrade Ozobo Austin national president of Ijaw Peoples development Initiative ,IPDI.

Comrd Daniel Ezekiel Pere Spokesman.

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