Barely 24 hours after an embarrassing perennial flood that destroyed properties worth several millions of naira following a heavy downpour that ravaged Delta state capital, Asaba, Wednesday, governor Ifeanyi Okowa has what is been described as ‘shamelessly’ tendered an unreserved apologies to Deltans over the severe damages caused them.
The governor, it was reliably learnt, has expended several millions of naira on construction of drainages covering Okpanam road and other areas to curb the perennial flood ravaging the state capital, but despite all of this, the situation has became worst and more embarrassing.
The rain which started around 4pm, was said to have affected places like Okpanam road, SSS road, legislative quarters, government house road, DBS, Asaba road among others, destroyed properties worth millions of naira, including cars that ran into dishes and others stocked on the road.
Motorists who suffered for hours along the Okpanam and DBS Road as well as the SSS road as a result of the flood covering all parts of the roads, lamented the situation and blamed governor Okowa for not taking any proactive measure to curb the flooding situation while some residents who were severely affected by the flood decried that bad situation of the Okpanam, DBS and SSS roads which are always impassable once there was heavy downpour.
“Governor Okowa is not paying lip services, he does not pay serious attention to the incessant flooding problems once it rains in Asaba, the Okpanam road, DBS and SSS roads are always impassable once there is a heavy down pour. The State Government is just paying lip service to the problem flooding in the Asaba metropolis. There is need for governor Okowa to wake up from his slumber to take urgent step towards tackling the situation.
“The areas need serious drainage system that will take water from the Okpanam axis to the River Niger. Okowa is a very unserious person. This problem has been there yet Okowa is not taking any drastic step to address it. You would not believe it, I spent over two hours from FMC to my house behind Swiss Spirit hotel.” a driver lamented.
Following the embarrassing development, Delta State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa has came out to apologised to Deltans, particularly those whose cars and houses were damaged as a result of the flood. The governor in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, (CPS), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, restated his administration’s commitment to addressing the perennial flooding that has continued to ravage residents of Asaba, the state capital.
“The State Government feels the pains and the anguish of residents who pass through horrendous times as a result of the perennial flooding in town, government would not rest on her oars until the issue is addressed. We apologise to all Deltans particularly those whose cars and houses were damaged. We seek your understanding as efforts are on to bring a lasting solution to the menace,” he said.
Governor Okowa however explained that previous government over the years, made concerted efforts to address drainage challenges in the state capital, “but our analysis of the erosion challenge revealed that we needed to undertake a major restructuring of the drainage system to accommodate the volume of water.
“However, the delay in completing the drainage project was as a result of our resolve to restructure the drains to accommodate the volume of water in addition to constructing a structure that would endure the test of time. Though we were challenged by the paucity of funds that greeted the state in more than 18 of the 24 months of our Administration, we remain committed to doing the right thing for our people”. Okowa said.
Meanwhile, cross section of Deltans, particularly Asaba residents, have described governor Okowa’s apologies as a step that was taken without any single atom of shame adding that, if governor Okowa was sincere and serious with the development of the state capital as well as solving headlong the perennial flooding in Asaba, by now the flooding would have been a thing of the past.
