Tony Okafor, Awka
The 2023 candidate of the Labour Party( LP) for House of Representatives in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State, Victor Afam Ogene, has cried out that the area has been submerged by flood.
As a consequence, he has called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to intervene and rescue Ogbaru people from the disaster.
He said, “Following the overflow of the River Niger and continuous downpour in the riverine LGA prone to flood, several communities have been submerged by flooding and residents displaced.
Ogene, who had previously represented the area in the House of Reps, said farms and other businesses in Ogbaru, had been swallowed by the horrendous flood, leaving many people in dire agony, sorrow, tears and hopelessness.
He named some of the mostly affected communities as Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe, Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.
He said, “It is pathetic. It is a terrible sight in Ogbaru as a result of the flood disaster. The human and environmental conditions here are absolutely pathetic and requires urgent action from government in order to alleviate the sufferings of the despondent victims, most of whom have lost all their belongings to the flood disaster.
“These flood victims that cut across several communities, urgently need relief materials and other assistance from government and it’s agencies, such as NEMA and SEMA. I therefore call on these agencies to rise up to its responsibility and bring urgent succour to the people of Ogbaru, who are currently besieged by flooding, so as to avert the outbreak of health challenges associated with such incident.
“Most of them urgently need food, clothing materials, beddings, medical supplies and shelter.
“I also call on the Anambra State Government, to liaise with the Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Paschal Aniegbuna and President Generals of Ogbaru communities, to coordinate relief efforts to ensure that there are prudently and transparently distributed in the best interest of the victims.
“Please, NEMA, SEMA and state government, should consider this as a serious and desperate SOS message and treat it with the urgency, humaneness and responsibility that it requires.”
