Group Slams Okowa, Keyamo, Council Boss For Neglecting Flood Victims In Delta

Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta state, Festus Keyamo, the state’s minister for labour and employment, and the two council chairmen of Isoko South and North, Victor Asasa and Christian Iteire, have all come under fire from the Pan-Isoko pressure group, the Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), as the flood that is destroying lives and property in the Isoko nation of Delta state continues to rise every second.

The group bemoaned the suffering and death of flood victims as a result of the failure of government at all levels to assist the victims and lambasted the state governor for seriously pursuing his vice presidential ambitions while ignoring flood victims throughout the state.

The group described Buhari and Okowa’s administrations as “total failures, insensitive, and irresponsible” in a statement titled “Isoko Communities Sacked By Flood, Our People Are Displaced, Devastated, And Have Lost Everything They Have; Yet The State And Federal Governments Have Shown No Concern” and signed by its president, Oke Michael Aziakpono, and spokeswoman, Kingsley Oroh, shortly after an emergency meeting in Oleh

“Rather than going to Uyo to preach rescue messages, we expected Governor Okowa and his officials to be on their rainboots and in canoes visiting our people, who are suffering the impacts of this devastating flood to rescue them to at least two IDP camps, which a responsible and responsive government should have established by now. The two local government chairmen should wake up from their long slumber, fold up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Our people are suffering.

“The Minister representing Delta State chose to serenade us with BAT MOMENTS rather than mobilizing all instruments of government to bring relief materials to the suffering people of Isoko displaced by this flood, which typifies the insensitivity of the Federal Government. As risk areas of the country suffer this seasonal disaster every year occasioned by failure of government in executing their responsibilities, the Isoko Monitoring Group, (IMG) is in bewilderment at the total insouciance and zero response from governments at various levels.

“As at the time of this statement, 60% of  communities in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State are under water. Farmlands and homes in some areas have been washed away. Our people are displaced and devastated.

We call on the state government to step in immediately by embarking on a tour of affected communities to get a first-hand assessment of what her citizens are suffering, which would enable the government to develop an appropriate response in conjunction with the federal government. This is the least we expect.

“May we also point out that governments exist to serve and protect citizens. For government impact to be missing at critical times such as this implies that public officials do not understand the functions of government.” 

“This is the time for elected and appointed officials to swing into action and  show concern for the hardship caused to their people by this disaster. Like other affected communities in the country, our people need immediate relief materials for daily survival and, after the flood, they will need to rebuild their homes and restart their farming activities. 

“Government assistance is greatly needed. The federal government needs to honour the agreement reached with the Cameroonian government in 1977 by completing the Dasin Hausa dam in Adamawa state.” 

“While we await that, the two governments need to work together to find mitigation to this problem in the interest of their people. We are also calling on all sons and daughters of Isoko to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters affected by this flood.“