Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
The Ebedaowei of Kabowei Kingdom, Aserifa Hope Torru, has called on Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, to activate the State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials for the people displaced by floods in his domain.
He said though flooding in the five Kabowei communities of Adagbabiri, Trofani, Asamabiri, Ekpereware and Elemebiri in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state is an annual disaster, the prediction for this year indicated that it would be worse compared to that of 2012.
The monarch, who made the appeal on Monday, therefore, called for urgent intervention on the part of both the federal and state governments as well as intervention agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission and Presidential Amnesty Programme, among others.
He said, “The flood this year will be worse than that of 2012. The water is rising every minute and I hope and pray that our people do all that is possible to remain safe.
“There is the urgent need for some form of relief materials to be sent to all our communities of Adagbabiri, Trofani, Asamabiri, Ekpereware and Elemebiri. They are all seriously affected.”
A youth leader in Trofani community, Mr. Sunday Koinyan, said there was an urgent need for people of the community to feel government’s presence as the flood had destroyed crops, farmlands and many people displaced.
He described the flooding of the community and other Kabowei communities as a huge challenge.
He solicited the assistance of all indigenes of Trofani to be their brothers keeper by providing succour to those affected.
Koinyan stated, “The flooding in our community is the biggest problem we are facing every year. We have lost so much to it and need the Federal Government through its responsive agencies to come to our aid.
“The state and local government also have a role to play in providing succour to our people. Trofani community is not the only one affected by this disaster, four other communities in Kabowei Clan are also affected. We need urgent attention.”