After APC Bashing, Delta Govt Announces Release of Funds to Support Flood Victims

The Delta State Government may have succumbed to knocks by the All Progressives Congress (APC), as it has announced the release of support funds for flood victims in the state.

The opposition party in the state, had on November 1, 2020, in a press statement, accused the PDP-led Delta state government of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of neglecting the plight of Deltans who had been badly affected by this year’s flood.

The statement titled, “Flood Victims: Your Indifference Is Deafening – Delta APC To Govr. Okowa”, and signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Sylvester Imonina, Esq., read that, “One of the primary duties of every responsible and responsive Government is the prompt response to the plight of her citizens in their time of need.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the Delta State Government under the leadership of Govr. Ifeanyi Okowa who has woefully failed in responding to the plight of thousands of Deltans whose lives and property is been ravaged by flood for several weeks now.

It is a fact that horrific flood has displaced many Deltans who live in the riverine areas of Delta South, Central and North senatorial Districts and because of the negative effects of the flood, lives, homes, farmlands and businesses have been lost in most of these communities! In fact, the pains/trauma that those affected are going through cannot be quantified!

Delta APC and indeed Deltans are surprised at the “I don’t care” attitude of Govr. Ifeanyi Okowa towards the horrible conditions that these Deltans find themselves. Till date, no internally displaced persons’ Camp has been set up to house them for the meantime nor palliatives sent to them to cushion the starvation that stares at them on the face every passing day!

Though, Delta APC is not oblivious of the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent #EndSARS protest have had a very negative effect on the finances of many States in the Federation, but that cannot be a justification for the callousness of the State Government towards the plight of her citizens. After all, Government and governance is about the welfare and wellbeing of the people.

As at today, Delta State Government receives the highest monthly allocation from the Federation account besides others funds like 13% derivation, ecological fund, and huge internally generated revenue. Painfully, the effect of these monies are not in anyway felt by Deltans because of the State Government’s poor and disoriented style of governance!

The sad reality is that during elections, the same government goes to these communities to canvass for their votes with all manner of superficial promises that never get to see the light of the day. It is therefore time for Deltans to become wiser and know those that they should cast their votes for if they want a better and more responsive governance.

Delta APC calls on Govr. Ifeanyi Okowa to as a matter of urgency and public interest put machineries in motion towards ameliorating the hardship, Deltans affected by flood are going through. The succour they need at this point in time cannot be over-emphasized. It is also hoped that it will be a transparent process and not an avenue for government officials to line their pockets at the expense of the people.

However, in the wake of the statement, the Delta state Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo on Monday, November 2, 2020, announced that the state governor has approved the release of funds to support flood victims.

The information circulated online by media aides to the Governor stated that, “In order to cushion the effect of flooding in communities in the state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has released funds to the affected local government areas to purchase food items for the affected communities.

The Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Delta State Chapter, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Asaba.

The ALGON boss listed the affected local government areas to include Oshimili South, Aniocha South, Ndokwa East, Isoko North, Isoko South, Patani, Bomadi, Burutu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Warri South-West and Warri North.

He said the affected Local Governments have started procurement of the food items and will soon commence distribution to the affected communities.

He appealed to the flood victims to be patient as help was underway.

“On behalf of my colleagues in ALGON, we thank our dear Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for the gracious release of funds to procure food items for flood victims in Delta State.

“I therefore appeal to our people to remain calm and patient as the various councils carry out the task of procuring and distributing the food items to the affected communities.

“It is our firm commitment to ensure that no one suffers on account of flooding as government is prepared to meet them half way,” Ikpokpo stated.