By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
Bayelsa State Government has decried the negligence of the state by the Federal Government over the flood that ravaged the country recently just as it frowned at the claim by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, that Bayelsa State is not one of the ten most impacted states in this year’s flood.
In a press statement signed by the Hon. Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayiba Duba said, the way the Federal Government and Minister has treated the state is appalling hence one begins to wonder if Bayelsa State is a part of Nigeria. The statement said, it was wrong for the Minister to have seated comfortably in Abuja to determine the area most flooded just as it frowned at the Minister’s relying on bogus data which contradict the reality on ground over the flood adding that, every local government is impacted by the ravaged flood. It said the Federal Government has not shown any empathy since the devastating flood started a month ago. Part of the statement reads:”…the way the Minister has treated our state is so unfortunate that our people begin to doubt that we are part of Nigeria.”
The statement added that going by the action of the Minister, Bayelsa State is not surprised that there is no representative of the Federal Government that has visited the state to ascertain the level of destruction. It reads:”…Is it not curious that the devastation occasioned by the flood a month ago, no representative of the Federal Government has visited our state to assess the situation?”.
The statement said, the Minister’s bogus data with the conclusion that Bayelsa is not even one of the most impacted, runs contrary to the basic science, common sense, concern and kindness adding, that the data used by the Federal Minister to arrive at her conclusion is suspicious and erroneous. It said the reality on ground is that, over three hundred (300) communities were impacted by the flood and almost a million people were displaced from their homes just as many of them lost their liveli-hood in Beyelsa State. It said, it is impossible for a state up North such as Jigawa be worst impacted when Bayelsa has the unfortunate responsibility of receiving the flood water that ran through more than fifteen (15) states.
It said, the Minister’s spurious claim has led to the slow response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the flood despite the President’s directive for her to come to the aid of the state adding, if the Humanitarian Minister is sincere, she should furnish Nigerians with the relief materials brought to the state and who received them. It said, Bayelsa State should not only be known when it comes to the exploitation of the resources in the land. It therefore charged the Minister if she is desirous to do a good job, to come to Bayelsa State and ascertain the extent of damage as far as the flood is concerned.