Ibru, others seek aid for Delta, Ebonyi flood victims
From Chido Okafor (Warri)
and Okumephuna Chukwunwike (Abuja)
THOUGH Delta and Ebonyi states are not physically close to each other, they are currently facing a common lot in floods to which they have lost lives and property.
After several hours of touring the flood-ravaged areas in Ughelli, Delta State, members of the National Assembly representing the area, including Senator Felix Ibru, senior aide, Mr. Benson Uwhe, a member of Federal House of Representatives representing Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituencies, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwe, the Ughelli North Local Council chairman, Mr. Edirin Idisi, and several other community chiefs, urged the Federal Government to quickly assist the over 2,000 persons affected by the flood.
Ibru's aide regretted that the flood caused so much damage to the residents of Ughelli, promising to do everything within his powers to get the attention of the Federal Government. Ibru himself is a victim as his "white house" home in Ughelli was flooded.
Oghenechovwe who physically walked through the flood during the inspection tour, disclosed that he and Ibru had discussed the problem in Abuja and had articulated a plan of action, one of which was to tour the affected areas and to document the extent of damage done by the flood to map out strategy on how to tackle it.
His words: "I came to see and to report back. What we intend to do is very clear. We will bring this flood issue to the floor of the House. We will bring this to the knowledge of government agencies in charge of relief materials." He stated that the flood had compounded the already existing employment problem in the council by destroying farmlands.
The council chairman, Idisi, said a lot of persons displaced by the flood had sought refuge in churches and school buildings. According to him, the council spends close to N4 million daily to feed the victims.
At the weekend, the state government announced the release of N82 million to help tackle the flood. This was after the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Tom Amioku and several government functionaries toured the flood-ravaged areas in the state.
The SSG warned that all buildings blocking the natural drainage would be destroyed and that a committee to manage the flood had been set up and that it would be chaired by Amioku.
The Ebonyi downpour last week destroyed property worth over N20 million and claimed two lives in Iboko, the headquarters of Izzi Local Council Area of Ebonyi.
The nocturnal downpour, which came with a whirlwind and lasted for about 10 hours, left almost all the buildings in the Local Government Secretariat roofless and rendered over 100 families homeless.
Among the property destroyed were the main Local Government Secretariat building which houses the office of the chairman and other principal officers of the Local Government, the official residence of the Chairman, Women Development Centre, Local Government Ceremonial Pavilion and over 200 other private residential buildings. Also affected were over 20 people who sustained different degrees of injuries. Two middle-aged villagers lost their lives in the process.
The chairman of the local council, Joe Nwonumara, said that the downpour took the residents of the community by surprise. His words: "We thought that it was the usual rainfall but before we knew it, there came a heavy wind throwing everybody into confusion. Before we knew what was happening, numerous properties have been destroyed including two lives and numerous others who sustained different degree of injuries."
Nwonumara praised the State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, for being the first to visit the scene of the disaster and offer help.
He, however, said that the aid from the state cannot be enough to rehabilitate the affected buildings and solicited the help of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
"The rainstorm has totally paralysed the activities of the local council as virtually all administrative buildings were affected. The Council is renovating the affected buildings from its lean resources and the kind gesture of the State Government. We may not be able to continue if the resources at hand are exhausted. This is why we are on our knees, praying NEMA to please come to our aid as urgently as possible", the council chairman said.
