Cole, with some of the children at the camp

Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt

The Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation (TCCO) has condemned the sudden directive by Gov. Nyesom Wike that all Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps presently housing victims of ravaging flood in parts of Rivers State should be closed down with immediate effect.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Director-General of the TCCO, Chief Chidi Lloyd, took a swipe at Gov. Wike, in his words, ‘for choosing to compound the sufferings of the victims of flood in Rivers State by ordering the immediate closure of the camps instead of visiting the people and providing them much needed succour.’

“It is condemnable for Gov. Wike to ignore calls by well-meaning people to visit suffering flood victims in the Orashi and other areas in Rivers State. Instead the governor has ordered that the IDP camps be closed down even when communities like Odiereke, Akinima and others are still submerged in water with reptiles roaming freely and occupying homes.

“We expect a responsible government to cater for the needs of the flood victims and when the water has completely receded, carry out a comprehensive health audit and possible fumigation before the victims move back to their homes. These our brothers and sisters are likely to face several challenges such as waterborne diseases, rodents and possible snake bites. Even some of their homes may have weakened to the point of collapsing with all the attendant dangers to life.”

“What offence did the poor victims of the floods commit against the governor that he should insist on not visiting and providing assistance to the people he governs but instead has chosen to compound their travails by suddenly ordering them out of the IDP camps where they are taking refuge?” Chief Chidi Lloyd queried.

Some of the items donated by the Cole Campaign Organisation

Speaking further, Chief Lloyd appealed to the flood victims about to vacate the IDP camps not to allow their spirit to be broken by the mindless action of Gov.  Wike.

“You can see that whatever is said in the Holy Bible is true. For example, the Bible says in Proverbs 29:2 that only when the righteous are in authority or rule that the people rejoice. Today it is the turn of the flood victims to taste the bad governance of Wike. This is what most of us have tasted and are still tasting.

“But behind every bleak moments in our lives is usually a bright silver lining beckoning. That silver lining is Pastor Tonye Patrick Cole, the governorship candidate of the APC who, by the grace of God, shall become the governor of Rivers State come May 29, 2019.

“As a disciplined and devout Christian, Cole will heal our broken State and provide the much needed reconciliation for all strata of our society. As an astute business achiever, Pastor Tonye Cole will painstakingly rework and realign the economy of Rivers State for the good of present and future generations of the people and residents of Rivers State, Chief Lloyd concluded.

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole has donated relief materials and cash worth millions of Naira to the IDP camp in Obedum Community, Odual Kingdom in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Making the donation to the flood victims when he visited them on Thursday amidst cheers, praise and worship by the inmates, Pastor Tonye Cole promised to do all within his powers and in synergy with the Federal Government to provide a permanent solution to the floods that annually ravage the area and other parts of Rivers State if he was elected governor of the State.