As the flood ravaging Isoko nation of Delta state continued to rise every second, destroying lives and properties a Pan-Isoko pressure group, Isoko Monitoring Group, (IMG), has taken a swipe at the president Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC), governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, representing the state, Festus Keyamo as well as the the two council chairmen of Isoko South and North, Victor Asasa and Christian Iteire over what they described as ‘total neglect” of flood victims.
The group, which carpeted the state governor for taking seriously his vice presidential ambition and abandoning flood victims across the state, lamented suffering and dying of flood victims following the inability of government of all levels to come the aid of victims.
The group in a communique 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” signed by its president, Oke Michael Aziakpono and the spokeman, Kingsley Oroh, shortly after an emergency meeting in Oleh, and obtained by our correspondent, termed Buhari and Okowa’s governments as “total failure, insensitivity and inresponsable”.
“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 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.
“he Minister representing Delta State chose to be serenading us with BAT MOMENTS rather than mobilising all instruments of government to bring relief materials to the suffering people of Isoko displaced by this flood 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 firsthand assessment of what her citizens are suffering, to enable the government 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 need to honour the agreement reached with the Camerounian 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.”
