By John Anthony Ikwulono
Following the devastation caused by flooding in Agatu, the Member Benue State House of Assembly representing Agatu State Constituency and Deputy Majority Leader of the 9th Assembly, Hon Godwin Abu Edoh and the Caretaker Chairman Agatu Local Government Council Hon Usman Alilu S on Wednesday 6th November 2019 led a team of Journalists to Oweto as well as other villages around riverine area to assess the damages caused as a result of the unfortunate situation.
Addressing Journalists at Oweto in Agatu, Hon Godwin Abu Edoh stated that, the situation was unbearable and there was need to urgently come to the aid of his people. According to him, Houses, Schools, Hospitals, Residential Houses and Farms have been submerged, making things difficult for the displaced persons. He called on Federal Government, State Government, NEMA, SEMA, NGOs, Public Spirited Individuals to come to the aid of Agatu people adding that the untold hardship on the people as a result of the flood was much. He equally appealed to the Federal Government to dredge river Benue or think of an alternative measures to put an end to the reoccurring decimal.
In his address, the Caretaker Chairman Agatu Local Government Council Hon Usman Suleiman Alilu appealed to Federal, State and other public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the internally displaced persons currently camping at Oweto, Obagaji, Okokolo and other villages adding that over 37 communities have been displaced. The visibly worried Agatu Local Government Boss lamented that he wasn’t himself when he saw all manner of challenges his people were going through adding that whatever support rendered would be highly appreciated.
Also speaking, the Ad’Agatu HRH Chief Godwin Ngbede Onah said today marked the second time he visited the displaced persons. He expressed shock that up till now the leaving condition of the people had not improved due to lack of support from government and other agencies. Chief Onah appealed to government at all levels as well as public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the over 37 communities ravaged by flooding.
In his remarks, the immediate past Supervisory Councillor for Finance and Appropriation Agatu LGC and Chairman Forum of immediate past Supervisory Councillors Benue State, Hon John Ikwulono expressed sadness over the tough time the people were going through saying Agatu people became victims of circumstance due to the unfortunate flooding. According to Ikwulono, no Agatu farmer from the affected communities could boast of any single harvest again this year due to the damages caused by the flooding. He further appealed to Government, NGOs, other Public Spirited individuals to urgently come to the aid of the people saying no single help had come to the IDPs since the ugly incidents occurred. He however appreciated the State Chairman of PDP Benue State and the political leader of Agatu Hon sir John Ngbede, Ad’Agatu Chief Godwin Ngbede Onah, the House of Assembly Member representing Agatu State Constituency Hon Godwin Abu Edoh as well as the Caretaker Chairman Agatu LGC for their efforts in making sure that the situation was given adequate publicity as well as other assistance rendered to the people.
A pregnant woman, an aged woman, elders and other young ladies at IDP camp spoke to journalists especially on their present conditions appealing for relief materials and the appreciable solution to flooding through dredging of river Benue.
The Assembly Member, Caretaker Chairman, as well as other prominent personalities including Hon Chris Abba (Mad Lion) were ferried by flying boat to other submerged villages along the riverine areas including Utugolugwu.
Abu Edoh and the Caretaker Chairman made cash donations to IDPs at different locations to enable them have something to be eating for the main time.
Those who went on the tour could not hold back their emotions including the journalists especially when an aged woman who was swimming endlessly started shedding tears and begging for help as if she was drowning in the river and at a point became a bit happier on sighting the visitors who came there thinking the immediate end to the challenges had come, but was disappointed that she still could not move out of her flooded house to anywhere which brought back hopelessness as they couldn’t know their next fate.
