MEMBERS of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State have urged President Buhari to declare a state of emergency over the floods that have wracked parts of the state.
The request comes right after the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund started looking into how beneficiaries utilised the funds given to them after flooding submerged several communities across many states.
Addressing journalists in Abuja today, the lawmakers who read a joint statement titled ‘Press Release on the Devastation Caused by the 2022 Flood in Bayelsa State,’ noted that the Bayelsa caucus was fully abreast of the “multi-faceted and perilous times confronting Bayelsans, as occasioned by the perennial floods that have sacked homes and entire communities.”
The lawmaker stressed that everyone needed to act quickly and that they were aware of all of the difficulties the situation had brought about.
“Guided by the untold suffering this has spelt on our people, we hereby empathise with all victims across the state, assuring that as representatives of the people, we are in unison, working assiduously in partnership with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to bring succour to the affected populace,” they said.
The statement was signed by Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator Biobarakumo Degi-Eremienyo, Senator Moses Cleopas and Messrs Frederick Agbedi, Preye Oseke, Frederick Obua, Israel Sunny-Goli and Steve Azaiki.
It partly read, “Considering that Bayelsa State is not just the worst affected, but one that has been completely severed from the rest of the states in the country as a result of the complete erosion across several sections of the East-West road.
“It is our additional call, therefore, on Mr President to declare a state of disaster emergency in Bayelsa State.
“Similarly, we call on ministries, departments and agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency; National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons; and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for their considered immediate intervention with medicines, foodstuffs and other relief materials.
“Consequent upon the above, we urge Bayelsans to be more united and cooperate with all intervention measures taken by the state government and federal ministries and agencies, while expressing greater trust in God, as we believe that, just like in the days of Noah, even this shall come to pass.”
