Obi argued that the FG ought to have declared flood disaster emergency in some of the affected states in the country.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has said that the country ought to have declared flood disaster emergency in some areas of the country.
Obi who made the observation on the basis of his experience with the devastating impacts in some states and communities across the country, noted that the the damage is much, the havoc enormous and beyond states and individuals. “The infrastructural damage is extensive”, he stated.
Obi who paused his campaign to enable him empathize with the victims of the flood disaster in some states of the federation has visited Benue, Bayelsa and Anambra states, stressing that the Federal Government ought to have declared national emergency on the natural disaster.
In all the ravaged areas he visited, Ogbaru in Anambra state, Bayelsa state, Obi was received by excited crowd of leaders and their people who led him first hand through the extensive damage to roads, markets, health and school infrastructure.
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In Bayelsa, the governor, Duoye Diri explained to the LP candidate the extent of the damage and the extreme hardship the people are going through as a result. Obi commended the Governor for his proactive handling of the situation.
Obi, expressed surprise that the federal government had yet to respond three weeks after a massive flooding hit Bayelsa State.
Obi said flying into the state in a chopper gave him a better aerial view of the situation and that the state needs urgent help.
Obi and Governor Diri, later visited internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion camp in Yenagoa.
The LP standard bearer lamented the hardship experienced by people of the state as a result of the floods and wondered why the federal government had not sent a high-powered delegation to the state with a view to providing assistance for the people.
While calling on the federal government to declare an emergency over the flooding in parts of Nigeria with Bayelsa as a case in point, he remarked that as a state that is strategic to the economy of Nigeria, it deserved more from the centre.
He called on the international community, donor agencies and public-spirited individuals and organizations to assist the government navigate through this difficult moment.
Obi lauded Governor Diri’s handling of the situation so far and urged him not to give up while promising to stand with the people in their trying moments.
The Labour Party presidential candidate said he decided to suspend his campaign to sympathize with the people of Bayelsa and other states affected and promised not to resume campaigns until this phase of flooding was over.
He noted that though as governor he experienced the 2012 floods, the current one was more devastating.
His words: “There is no way anyone will be happy with the situation in Bayelsa. My appeal is for the federal government to send a strong team to come see what is happening here.
“I was a governor in 2012 but I did not see what I have seen today. The federal government needs to declare an emergency in Bayelsa considering the strategic importance of the state to Nigeria.
“I appeal also to the international community and donor agencies too to help. Bayelsa needs urgent support. What I have seen here is unimaginable. The federal government needs to intervene immediately.”
Responding, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to Obi for his show of love to people of the state, saying he feels comforted by his visit, which was the first by any high profile individual.
Diri lamented the impact of the flood, which he said has claimed lives, property and destroying the economy of the state.
The Bayelsa governor acknowledged the concern showed by President Muhammadu Buhari by directing federal rescue and disaster management agencies to assist the state. He however noted that the directive was yet to be adhered to.
The governor assured people of the state that his administration will continue to stand with them and spare no effort in providing relief to victims of the flood.
Diri also said that his government was already thinking about the post-flood challenges, especially with the destruction to critical infrastructure in the state.
Recall that while in Benue state on last week on similar sympathy visit, Obi rode in a paddled Canoe to meet the people at their IDP camps and they out of excitement crowned him ‘President of the of the People’
