The media gateway to the East.
For inquiries:
Phone: +234 81 8616 6160
Email: editor.championnews@gmail.com
…..House of assembly candidate, IUF call for help
By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja
Fears, uncontrollable wailing and hopelessness as thousands of residents of Ibaji community in Kogi state, woke up early hours of Wednesday to see themselves floating on water pushed by the overflow of river Niger.
Though the story is not new of the people, who yearly suffer the ravaging flood due to their terrain, the aggressive way in which the flood sacked the residents this year, is a thing of concern, and an incidence that calls for help.
The people blessed with natural resources and endowment, have no full time to celebrate and enjoy their God-given natural produce as a result of yearly occurrence of flood disaster.
Today, the entire villages in the 10 wards of Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State have been submerged by flood which has displaced over 150,000 residents including children now in dire need of urgent relief and evacuation.
Villages like Atikor, Agbagbojor, Inemeh, Ejolofe, Ikpeko, Abujaga, Iyano, Ihi, Ikaka, Akwuro, Ojigbolo, Onugwa, Odumomoh, Ayah, Uchuchu, Ujeh, Ika, Omabo, Iteh, Unale, Ejule, Onyedega, Itoduma, Ogaine 1, 2 and 3, Ojuba, Odeke, Echenwo, Iregwu, Unwajala, Ota, Odobo, Ojiala, Ogwu, Iramawa, Machiga and others are totally submerged by the flood.
Several buildings with weak foundations have already collapsed while many farm settlements, crops and household properties have been washed away by the rampaging floods from the River Niger and its tributaries including Analo river that connects several communities.
Report from Idah town, in Idah Local Government Area, the closest local government to Ibaji, indicates that engine boats and canoes were seen conveying some displaced residents of villages in Ibaji that are close to Idah to the up land in Idah town.
Premature farm produce like yams, cassava, potatoes, rice and others were forcefully harvested and dumped at EGA Idah, as the owners, Ibaji farmers have no ground left to store them.
Ibaji Local Government has several coastal communities spread along the River Niger and its tributaries bordering Enugu, Anambra, Edo, and Delta State.
Reports from the council said the council headquarters at Onyedega had been completely submerged while the staff and other residents of the town have deserted their homes.
There was no report of casualties from the flood disaster so far but several persons rendered homeless are said to be lacking food and drugs just as the aged and children were said to be suffering various ailments including severe cold.
Transporters and commercial motorcyclists that normally convey passengers from Idah to various communities in Ibaji have reportedly suspended their services as most of the roads had become impassable on account of the flood disaster.
Reacting to the development, the Ibaji Unity Forum, IUF, an association for all Ibaji Sons and Daughters at home and in the Diaspora, lamented the monumental losses already caused by the perennial flooding of communities in the local government and made a passionate appeal to the federal and Kogi states governments, humanitarian, donor and relief agencies to urgently come to the aid of the displaced persons.
President of the association, Barrister Stephen Ugbeda James Uchola, said the appeal had become necessary since the displaced people of Ibaji are currently helpless, lacking shelter, food and drugs, adding that many had remained trapped on top of trees and hills waiting to be evacuated to safe places.
“As we speak, thousands of people have been completely rendered homeless as their houses have been submerged and various crops including rice, yam and cassava have been washed away. Even those that will survive the flood disaster will have nothing with which to continue life when they return to their villages.
“On behalf of Ibaji Unity Forum, I hereby call on the Federal Government, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Kogi State Government, International donor agencies and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of our people now in dire need of relief materials to enable them survive the hardship they have been subjected to by the natural disaster,” Barrister Ugbeda said.
Meanwhile, a philantropist, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, has made a donation of N10 million towards alleviating the suffering of the flood victims in Ibaji local government area.
The IUF leader applauded the kind gesture of Alhaji Ajaka and appealed to others to emulate him as the needs of the victims were enormous.
Speaking also, the House of Assembly hopeful, Hon. Collins Anana Oji expressed worry over the sufferings of his people, calling for relevant bodies and stakeholders to intervene and assist the displaced Ibajians.
He said if given the mandate to represent the people at the state assembly, beside, the issue of road, water, electricity, functioning schools and hospitals, he would champion and sponsor a bill that would take into consideration the supposed palliatives and relief that would constantly go to the people when such situation arises.
“I deeply feel the pains of my dear people of Ibaji over the flood menace that have continually ravaged our original dwelling place.
“In as much as there are climate change challenges, I also believe that government’s negligence and outright politicizing of intervention policies meant to ameliorate this annual disaster is one of the major reasons this flooding is unabated.
“In this regard, I call on relevant constituted authorities to do the needful to protect the lives of our people as well as well as cushion the hardship brought upon us by the menace. Ibaji people truely deserve all the support.
” I totally and whole heatedly align my solidarity with those who have lost their properties and sources of livelihood to this menace”.
Recover your password.
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Comments are closed.