The floods are devastating, our people need help, says Omo-Agege

…Charges Okowa’s govt to be alive to its responsibilities

By Chimezie Godfrey

The Deputy Senate President and Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has expressed concern that the ongoing floods in parts of the state has caused massive destruction, saying, “our people need help”.

Senator Omo-Agege who undertook a tour of flood-ravaged communities in the state on Saturday, said the purpose was to determine the extent of damage.

He lamented the devastation caused by the floods to food crops, farmlands, houses and property, resulting in some cases to loss of lives.

Areas visitied included Evwreni, Uwheru Communities in Ughelli North Local Government Area; Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps at St Michael College as well as Isoko Central School Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Delta Central lawmaker expressed concern at the level of devastation caused by the flood, and called on relevant agencies of the federal and state governments to urgently come to the aid of the flood victims.

He also called on affected residents to move to higher grounds,even as he tasked the state government to be alive to its responsibilities in addressing the welfare of affected communities and citizens.

He said: “We have government here at the state level. I can’t imagine anything that is important right now than pushing for the welfare of the citizenry. After all, these are the people who voted us into office. I think everything that government is into, both at state and federal levels, most especially the state, should be put on hold and the welfare of our people immediately addressed. And thereafter, we look for how we address the concerns in the immediate future.

“It is very worrisome that this happens year in year out. This will be the second time I’m coming to Uwheru on the same issue. And I begin to wonder what government is doing, most especially here at the state level, to forestall a reoccurrence. I recall a couple of years ago, I tried my best to address this flood control issue, especially at Ohoro, Agadama and Egbo Ide Communities.

“Our people are in pains. And they need help right away. Even before coming here, I have already reached out to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and also the Director General of NEMA, impressing on them the necessity to bring immediate relief and assistance to those who have been rendered homeless with all source of livelihood wiped out”.

He appealed to affected communities to remain calm, assuring that government will do everything to ensure that succour comes to them as soon as possible.

Speaking at Uwheru Community, he said: “Clearly, this is very devastating. This is a community I am very familiar with. To imagine that the East/West Road is pretty much cut into half. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So I can imagine what our people are passing through. It must be very devastating for them. The emphasis right now is on how to bring comfort to those who have suffered the most.

“The essence of this assessment tour is to determine the extent of damage. I think I have seen more than enough. And it’s also the same in the three Ukwuani Local Government Areas. In fact, 16 or 19 local government areas in the state have suffered the same fate”.

On his plans to ameliorate the situation and bring succour to the people, the APC Governorship Candidate said: “There are going to be different approaches that we will adopt. There will be plans for the immediate, midterm and long term. But in the immediate, it is how to bring succour, especially those whose source of livelihood is wiped away. They need to eat, they need a place to sleep. “