The Ijaw Youth Council has demanded an apology from the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Farouq Umar over her comments on Bayelsa state not being among the most affected states by the recent flood.
The minister had listed Jigawa as the most affected as the most affected state by the flood, insisting that Bayelsa is not part of the top 10 affected states.
Reacting to the comment, the apex body of Ijaw youths has called on the minister to apologize for trying to downplay the effect of the flood on a state as crucial to the nation’s economy as Bayelsa.
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The demand was made by the IYC Legal Adviser, Obiri Ebilade on Saturday, when the body distributed relief materials to flood affected communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State.
Obiri, who reiterated the label on Farouq by the Ijaw National Congress as a minister of Disaster, noted that the effect of the flood was harsh on the people.
The IYC Flood Committee Chairman said;
“We’ve gone round to see the devastating effect of the flood and it’s something we can’t write home about..
“Our people’s properties were destroyed, farmlands where destroyed and lives where lost. Today the president has provided some palliatives for us to distribute to some of the clans impacted by the flood.
“The flood is something that has impacted so much on the lives of Ijaw people, and that is why we are very angry with the comment made by the humanitarian minister, Ms. Faruq Umaru for trying to underplay the effect of the flood in Bayelsa state.
“Bayelsa was over 90% submerged in flood, lives and properties where lost and yet Minister sat in her comfort zone without even sending any delegation to get first hand information on the effect of the flood, sat down trying to underplay the effect of the flood on the people Bayelsa state. It is something that can’t be tolerated.
“We align ourselves with the statement of our parents body INC who described the minister of disaster management as a disaster her own self that should be managed.
“We call on her to apologize to the entire Ijaw nation. And of course the money that will be spent by the ministry to mitigate the effects of this flood wil even come from Bayelsa state. Yet you try to underplay Bayelsa state.”
The Flood Committee also extended gratitude to the federal government for increasing the budget for the East West Road and called on contractors to do a diligent job.
“The committee also want to thank the federal government for the additional N250 billion that is added to the East West Road that was massively affected by the flood.
“When we carried out our studies, we discovered that most of these places that the flood affected in the Ahaoda axis of Rivers state and the Patani axis of Delta State are natural water channels, proper studies should have been made before building the roads.
“The jobs where not done properly and we call on the federal government while we are commending them for approving that money, they should give a matching order to do a good and diligent job, bridges should be built so that this will not repeat itself.”
The Committee further commended the Bayelsa State governor for his efforts towards cushioning the effect of the flood on the people and warned of possible post-effects of the flood.
“We also want to thank the governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellence Douye Diri for setting the pace as a leader. He was there with the people through out this period.
“The post flood effect is also there waiting for us. Like I said farmlands were destroyed, fish farms were destroyed, poultry farms were destroyed, pig farms were destroyed.
“Hunger is coming to the land. The government should provide succour and materials to these farmers to go back into farming, other wise there will be food scarcity and when there is food scarcity there will be problem.
“We also want to thank the president of the IYC for appointing us as the committee to carry out this task and for providing these palliatives to the clans affected by the flood.”
