Flood victims decry neglect by Gov Wike, FG in Rivers

Friday, October 12, 2018 5:15 pm

Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt

The people of Orashi region of Rivers State terribly affected by the flood as result of the overflowing of Orashi River, have again accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and President Muhammmadu Buhari of not showing compassion to them about two months after water destroyed their property and claim lives of some members in their communities.

Comrade Rufus Albert, Coordinator of Orashi Assembly expressed the disappointment of the flood victims who cut across four local government areas of Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua Odual and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni said that it was disheartening to note neither Governor Wike, the Federal Government nor any agencies of government have visited the affected areas to show sympathy to flood victims.

According to Rufus Albert, “Both governments have done nothing to reduce the effect of the disaster on the people. We in Orashi region are saddened that for over a month and two weeks that we have been submerged by flood, we are yet to receive any substantial help from any state or federal government agency, even as not less than five persons have been swept away by flood.

“The level of flood is beyond the responsibility of the local government administration.”

Flooded area in Rivers

The Chairman of Community Development Committee of one of the submerged communities, Okitie Goodluck, said his people have lost everything. He added that his people are in urgent need of food, shelter potable water and medical attention.

He lamented that the only dry place available to flood victims is the town hall while appealing to government to evacuate them to a safer place.

“The hall is over populated. We need wider space Government should come to our aid. Before we run into epidemic. As I speak, we are homeless, no food, no water no medical attention and place for human defecation. We understand the Governor and other political leaders across the country have been busy with political activities, they should be considerate to our plight “.

Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government council, Hon. Ifeanyi Odili, who spoke to Journalists in Omoku, the headquarters of the Local government said no fewer than 20,000 persons have been rendered homeless.

He added that more communities are currently being ravaged by flood, a situation he described as devastating.

He added that there was need for agencies of the federal government to come to the aid of the local government council.

He said: “The situation is very devastating. If you go to Ndoni district, precisely Utu, Utuechi,Ogbogene, Asaaga, Agwe, Omuikwu and partsof Ndoni Town, Agbaja, Isukwa and so many communities, the flood has sacked all of them.

“The people in the community live in just very little piece of land. We are trying to see how we can relocate them to other places like Ndoni Town, though, part of Ndoni Town has been overtaken by flood.

“Part of Omoku, Okwuzi and Agga communities have also been taken over by theflood.”He said that makeshift homes have been created by the council to shelter some of the residents now displaced by the flood.

“We are calling of the state government and the federal government to come and assist our people because they have been displaced.

“Majority of them are predominantly farmers. Right now, they don’t have anything to eat. So,they need food, they need foams, good medication and good water to drink.”

At the Ahoada West local Government area, flood has sacked over 30 communities no fewer than five people have been reported killed as flood waters have sacked over 30 communities.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the council, Hope Ikiriko, has lamented that the area had been abandoned by the Federal Government.

In Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State, some of the communities already submerged include Okarki, Okparaki, Ikeodi, Odiereke-Ubie, Ikodu, Ombor, Kumusha Ugovia, Udoda, Ogbogolo clan, Oruoma, Mbiama and Akinima, JK 1, 2,3 and 4.Ikiriko, who visited some of the affected communities yesterday, with relief materials, disclosed that two people drowned in the area.

Ikiriko called on the Federal Government to declare emergency on the flood situation in local government area, adding that the council has lost count of the number of displaced persons in the incident.

He said: “We are in the midst of the flooding. In these communities, over 40 buildings are already submerged. Communities now affected by the flood are above 30. We are living in fear . The report I got is that two people have drowned in the flood.”